In spite of lingering claims about “Ukraine fatigue” in the West and the stalled discussions on Kyiv’s possible future membership of NATO, the United States and Europe are stepping up their arms provision to Ukraine and strengthening commitment in the long-term.

On the other hand, concerns are arising over the U.S. strengthening its involvement in Ukraine, with some criticizing the move as having a negative impact on Washington's capability to deter and address a possible contingency involving China in the Indo-Pacific region.

Simply put, the question is which should be given priority as a threat and challenge that needs responding to — Russia or China. As long as there are limits to U.S. resources, there is no denying a tradeoff.