The United States’ Ethical Dilemma with The Ukraine-Russia War

 Maj. Dolly J. P. Hutagalung/ACSC, Flight 13/LP-601/August 23, 2023

The Ukrainian people will never forget February 24, 2022. The Ukrainian crisis took a tragic turn when Russia invaded, citing fears over Ukrainians wanting to join NATO. Meanwhile, the United States (U.S.), with substantial influence within NATO, supported Ukraine's desire to join the alliance while condemning Russia's hostile actions. The U.S. supports Ukraine by providing military assistance, including cluster munitions with dual-purpose improved conventional munition (DPICM), to counter Russian aggression. On the other hand, this act incited much discourse within American society due to its multifaceted implications, giving rise to an ethical dilemma.

An ethical dilemma arises when multiple alternative courses of action are available, none of which can be unambiguously deemed morally superior.[i] In this case, the U.S. government argues that the cluster ammunition can help Ukraine in the fight against Russia, yet the U.S. public is concerned about the impact of such ammunition on civilians. This essay justifies America's decision to provide cluster munitions to Ukraine. Despite cluster ammunition having the potential to increase civilian casualties, this ammunition assistance clearly demonstrates the U.S. commitment to assisting Ukraine and is part of an effort to end the conflict immediately.

 The provision of increased ammunition correlates with an escalated risk of further casualties. In fact, the ongoing combat in Ukraine has resulted in a significant number of casualties, with an estimated 354,000 soldiers from Russia and Ukraine being killed or injured.[ii] This long conflict shows no signs of resolution and is expected to continue beyond the year 2023. However, even by combatants, the act of killing, must not be done lightly, because one life is extremely valuable. This conforms to the ethical deontology principle emphasizing adherence to moral rules and action principles.[iii] In addition, based on the findings of the search results, it can be inferred that the DPICM can produce collateral damage and a small number of unexploded ordnances.[iv] Civilians may be affected by collateral damage, and unexploded ordnances will pose a problem in the future. War always results in human casualties because achieving victory requires the willingness to make sacrifices. However, due to its effectiveness, using cluster ammunition is crucial to maintaining balance during the war.

Providing weaponry support to Ukraine proves that the U.S. is upholding its commitment. In the year prior, the U.S., together with its allies and partners, delivered important security assistance that had a tangible impact on the battlefield, aiding the Ukrainian populace in safeguarding their nation against Russian incursions and advancements.[v] The U.S. demonstrates its commitment by assisting Ukraine in resisting Russian aggression and by working to maintain security and stability in the European region where its allies and partners reside. This action demonstrates that the U.S. implements ethical virtues, specifically a moral characteristic that permits morally commendable actions.[vi] Maintaining pledges is of utmost importance in upholding the credibility of the U.S., hence facilitating its global influence.

Furthermore, the U.S. desires to assist in ending the Russo-Ukrainian conflict as soon as feasible. The protracted confrontation significantly affects the involved parties and the global community. The worldwide commercial and economic system was recovering from the epidemic's effects and had notable interruptions that led to a considerable surge in food prices.[vii] The prolonged conflict affects every country, and the global community will suffer more. Additionally, the continuance of the conflict can potentially escalate tensions between Russia and other nations. This phenomenon could have major implications for arms races and the development of advanced weapons.[viii] The worst-case scenario could escalate into a larger war, involving advanced weaponry and causing immense devastation. Therefore, the immediate cessation of the fighting became imperative. With the aid of the U.S.-supplied armaments, it is anticipated that the Ukrainian military will be able to repel the Russian military and possibly end the conflict immediately. This action demonstrates how the U.S. implements consequentialist ethics that determine an action’s morality by its consequences.[ix] When the conflict ends in victory for Ukraine, the death cost will cease, and the condition of the global society will gradually improve.

In conclusion, the crisis escalated when Russia invaded Ukraine, citing concerns over Ukraine’s NATO membership, and how the U.S. supported Ukraine while denouncing Russia's hostile actions. The U.S. provides military assistance to Ukraine, including cluster munitions addressing Russian aggression, raising ethical dilemmas. However, The U.S. is justified in supplying cluster munitions to Ukraine. Even though the increase in munitions corresponds to a higher number of casualties, the U.S. remains committed to fulfilling its pledge of supporting Ukraine to expedite the resolution of the conflict. In addition to facilitating the provision of weaponry to Ukraine, it is imperative for the U.S. and its allies to adopt a diplomatic and economic strategy aimed at engaging Russia directly, with the objective of seeking a mutually agreeable resolution to the ongoing war.

 

 

Notes

        I wish to thank our Course Instructor, Lt Col. Robert Lacy, Maj. Christoper, Maj. Baza, Maj. Dustin and all students of Flight 13 for their thoughtful comments and suggestions. All errors found therein are my own.

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[i]. Daniel Strand, "Ethics and Military Leadership," Air War College, Air University, 7-8. 

[ii]. Guy Faulconbrige, "Ukraine War, Already with Up to 354,000 Casualties, Likely to Last Past 2023 - U.S. Documents," Reuters, last modified April 12, 2023, https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-war-already-with-up-354000-casualties-likely-drag-us-documents-2023-04-12/. 

[iii]. Strand, "Ethics," 6. 

[iv]. David E. Blanton, "Cluster Munitions No More: What This Means for the U.S. Military," MCoE, accessed August 18, 2023, https://www.moore.army.mil/armor/earmor/content/issues/2014/oct_dec/Jacobson.html. 

[v].  The White House, "FACT SHEET: One Year of Supporting Ukraine," The White House, last modified February 21, 2023, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/02/21/fact-sheet-one-year-of-supporting-ukraine/. 

[vi]. Strand, "Ethics," 6. 

[vii]. Jill Lawless, "Global Impact: 5 Ways War in Ukraine Has Changed the World," AP NEWS, last modified February 22, 2023, https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-5-things-c183ddfe6c140393464d3e0c3828c328. 

[viii]. Anthony H. Cordesman, "The Longer-Term Impact of the Ukraine Conflict and the Growing Importance of the Civil Side of War," Center for Strategic and International Studies, last modified June 6, 2022, https://www.csis.org/analysis/longer-term-impact-ukraine-conflict-and-growing-importance-civil-side-war. 

[ix]. Strand, "Ethics," 7.