Ukraine’s ‘Remarkable Innovation’ Holds the Line—But Allies Still Fall Short

Europe is stepping up its support for Ukraine, but a leading analyst warns the effort is still not enough to fix the country’s core weakness. Samantha de Bendern, an Associate Fellow at Chatham House, says Ukraine is showing “remarkable innovation” by holding the front line while striking at Russia’s economy. Yet she argues that Kyiv’s allies have not matched that creativity with decisive action of their own. The central question remains: Are Ukraine’s partners ready to actively help protect its airspace? That debate goes back to the start of the full-scale invasion. Even after President Biden warned in 2022 that a Russian attack was imminent, Kyiv’s allies refused to enforce a no-fly zone. Their reason: direct NATO involvement could trigger a wider war with Moscow. De Bendern’s message is clear—Ukraine’s resilience is real, but without stronger allied commitment, the country’s fundamental vulnerability persists.