Brussels Sprouts The Hidden Past and Uncertain Future of the U.S. and Ukraine with Celeste Wallander
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Apr 11, 2025 
Celeste Wallander, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, delves into the critical dynamics of U.S. support for Ukraine. She discusses how fluctuating American aid during the Trump administration reshaped perceptions in Europe. The conversation touches on the complexities of military planning, interagency collaboration, and the evolution of nuclear deterrence amid rising tensions. Wallander emphasizes the importance of adaptable strategies and European involvement in bolstering Ukraine's defense against ongoing threats.
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Evolving Needs
- US security assistance to Ukraine was driven by real-time Ukrainian needs, which evolved with the conflict.
- Early aid focused on immediate needs like repelling forces from Kyiv, not long-term challenges like infrastructure attacks.
Initial Intelligence Assessment
- Initial US intelligence assessments overestimated the speed of a potential fall of Kyiv.
- This focus on a worst-case scenario influenced early aid decisions, prioritizing a potential government-in-exile.
Training Mismatch
- Early allied training of Ukrainian troops sometimes mismatched Ukraine's actual needs on the ground.
- This was later corrected through co-developed plans focused on Ukrainian objectives, like reaching the Sea of Azov.