In an article for The Wall Street Journal, retired U.S. Army Brigadier General Mark T. Kimmitt calls for a review of the current defense strategy in Ukraine and for abandoning the doctrine of “active defense,” which, in his opinion, repeats the mistakes of the Cold War. The general recalls that “active defense” in Western Europe once meant trading space for time until reinforcements arrived, but even then there was not enough time or space in Europe to prolong the conflict for a long time. In his opinion, the current application of this doctrine in Ukraine produces the same ineffective results.
Kimmitt suggests a return to the ideas of “deep warfare” and air-ground strategy, which involve striking at the enemy’s vulnerable rear echelons—logistics, command posts, and reinforcements. He notes that during the Reagan era, the United States invested billions of dollars in intelligence, guidance, and long-range strikes, developing the systems and weapons that are now largely present on the Ukrainian battlefield in modernized form. However, political constraints on range, targets, and types of weapons, he says, limit the full impact of these capabilities and give Russia time to replenish its ammunition, personnel, and logistics.
The general emphasizes that decisions on restrictions should belong solely to the Ukrainian leadership — the president and the military command — and not to bureaucrats in Brussels or Washington. According to him, the borders should not become a haven for critical targets, and if the West seeks victory, it must allow Ukraine to isolate Russian forces on the front lines and create the conditions for offensive operations.
The article also mentions discussions surrounding the transfer of long-range weapons. Earlier, public statements mentioned the consideration of the transfer of Tomahawk missiles, and some Ukrainian military experts, including representatives of the Land Forces Reserve, indicated that the presence of such missiles within a range of up to 3 thousand kilometers would threaten the enemy's key logistics, warehouses, airfields and field headquarters. The topic of long-range weapons and the rules for their use remains the subject of intense political and military discussions between Kyiv and its partners.
