An American Diplomat Identified The Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Main Advantage In The War Against Russia

• 10.09.2026, 22:39

James Gilmore explained why the U.S. needs Ukraine to win.

Over the years of full-scale war, Ukraine has developed a model for conducting military operations that could serve as a "roadmap" for the United States. This is reported on the pages of Daily Signal, James Gilmore, former U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and former governor of Virginia, writes about this.

According to him, national security analysts were amazed by how Ukraine—a country the size of Texas—held its ground against the Russian Federation, a country nearly twice the size of the United States.

“Necessity breeds innovation. Ukraine has adapted by identifying new threats, developing its defense ecosystem, establishing mass production, and deploying the results on the front lines. Ukraine has relied on its own drone production and development rather than on dependence on China—an ally of Russia,” the article states.

The expert emphasized that current Ukrainian drone attacks are penetrating deeper and deeper into Russia, striking key weapons manufacturing facilities, oil refineries, chemical plants, and, most recently, a semiconductor factory. As a result, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is forced to redirect resources to protect Russian supply lines and infrastructure.

According to Gilmore, these efforts by the Ukrainian military “are a model of ingenuity, innovation, and modernization,” as they allow the country not only to hold its ground but also to change the course of the war.

“More importantly for Americans, this experience provides a roadmap for developing new weapons technologies that will help the United States in the current war with Iran and potential future conflicts,” the author argues.

He recalled that in April and May, during the Combined Resolve joint exercises between the U.S. and Ukrainian militaries, U.S. forces suffered a defeat:

“Ukraine used its drones to repeatedly detect and neutralize U.S. service members and armored vehicles, which were equipped with electronic warfare and counter-drone technologies.”

Gilmore also noted that in July, the U.S. and Ukraine signed a bilateral defense partnership that combines American manufacturing capabilities with the unprecedented technology of Ukrainian drones. It provides for the export of Ukrainian strike drones to the U.S. for military testing and “also lays the foundation for future cooperation between the two countries in the field of unmanned technologies.”

“U.S. access to rapidly advancing and cost-effective drone technologies used in real combat conditions is extremely important for meeting the Pentagon’s needs for unmanned weapons systems. As the existence of a new ‘axis of evil’—Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran—becomes increasingly evident, our partnership with Ukraine is becoming ever more vital to our own national security,” the expert stated.

He explained that China and North Korea are supporting Russia in its invasion of Ukraine by supplying ammunition and military personnel. Iran has developed and transferred hundreds of “Shahed”-type drones to Russia, which Putin is upgrading and using to launch strikes against Ukrainian civilians. Now, the author writes, Russia is supplying Iran with drone components, ammunition, and military equipment via the Caspian Sea to help the terrorist regime fight the U.S.:

“Ukraine is not the only country threatened by Russia. Putin is threatening the United Kingdom for supporting Ukraine and providing it with drone technology… As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has reached a stalemate, other NATO countries believe they are also in danger.”

According to Gilmore, the U.S. is currently engaged in a global conflict with adversaries “united by a common goal—to end American leadership in world affairs.”

He asserts that “some people in America who call themselves conservatives are helping our adversaries by advocating for a neo-isolationist withdrawal of the U.S. from global leadership.” However, the author writes, conservatives around the world must reject this approach, because “waging war alone, without allies, can lead to defeat.”

“As global alliances become increasingly evident, it is time for the U.S. to strengthen its support for Ukraine—a country that has learned to innovate and adapt during this war and, as a result, has benefited the United States,” Gilmore noted.

He believes that a Ukrainian victory now represents the best chance for the U.S. to “prevent a truly global conflict with an unpredictable outcome.”