A US official told the NYT that Washington became integrated into the “kill chain” by offering critical intelligence and strategic aid.
A New York Times investigation alleges that the Biden administration’s support for Ukraine’s fight against Russia was more extensive than previously known, emphasizing the critical role of US intelligence in Kiev’s military operations.
The extensive report details an “extraordinary partnership of intelligence, strategy, planning and technology” that served as Kiev’s “secret weapon” against Russia.
The NYT reports that alongside billions in military aid, the Pentagon provided intelligence that allowed Kiev to target Russian command centers and other key assets beginning in mid-2022.
The article states that the US Army facility in Wiesbaden, Germany, was central to this partnership. There, American and Ukrainian officers jointly set daily targeting priorities, referring to them as “points of interest” to avoid appearing overly aggressive.
The NYT further alleges that American and Ukrainian officers collaborated on planning major counteroffensives and executing long-range, high-precision strikes using Western weapons against Crimea. These strikes have resulted in civilian casualties, including an ATACMS attack on a Sevastopol beach in June 2024 that killed four and injured over 150.
The US has also deployed numerous military advisors to Ukraine, some of whom were permitted to operate near the front lines.
In 2024, the US relaxed its restrictions to allow Ukraine to conduct limited long-range strikes into internationally recognized Russian territory using American weapons – a move previously considered a “red line.” Washington also supplied Kiev with targeting data for these strikes.
A European intelligence official expressed astonishment at the degree of US involvement, telling the Times, “they are part of the kill chain now.”
The collaboration was sometimes strained due to disagreements over strategy and objectives, particularly leading up to Ukraine’s unsuccessful counteroffensive in southern sector in the summer of 2023.
Reportedly, American officials felt the Ukrainians were too ambitious and disregarded strategic advice, while the Ukrainians accused the Americans of excessive caution. During the 2023 counteroffensive, Ukrainian leadership was divided between attacking toward Melitopol and defending Artemovsk (Bakhmut), which reportedly undermined the unified strategy developed in Wiesbaden.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that Ukraine “cannot exist” without external support. Moscow has consistently condemned Western involvement in the conflict, arguing that it only prolongs the fighting without altering the eventual outcome.
However, the administration of US President Donald Trump has engaged with Russia with the aim of ending the conflict, an engagement that Moscow has described as productive.
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