Some American celebrities have already raised funds for humanitarian aid to Ukrainians for a month. However, Hollywood actor Sean Penn went much further.

He called on billionaires worldwide to spend $300 million to purchase two squadrons of F-15 and F-16 for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which have advantages over the Russian Su and MiG.

Perhaps many were surprised by such a particular call from a Hollywood star. Still, the fact is that at the end of 2021, Sean Penn began filming a documentary in Ukraine about the struggle of this country against Russian aggression, starting in 2014.

On the first day of the war – February 24 – when Russian missiles fell on Kyiv, Sean Penn was in the capital of Ukraine. He closely follows the course of hostilities and is well aware of the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

In general, the United States has been preparing to help Ukraine in its confrontation with Russia since the end of 2021, but in its own way. The Pentagon and the Biden Administration were confident that the RF Armed Forces would be able to defeat some parts of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and disable others in a few days, while others had to lay down their arms on their own.

Based on the objective difficulties for the Russian Federation in the occupation of the entire territory of Ukraine and the unacceptability for the majority of Ukrainian citizens of entering the authoritarian political space of the Russian neo-empire, the White House expected the deployment of a large-scale, protracted and tough guerrilla war in defeated Ukraine.

Perhaps the Biden Administration would not mind at all if the Russian Federation got bogged down in some kind of “European Afghanistan.” Therefore, the United States prepared in advance for sending to Ukraine a batch of weapons necessary for partisan operations – Javelin anti-tank grenade launchers, Stinger portable anti-aircraft missile systems, individual military first-aid kits, etc.

All this, of course, helped the Armed Forces of Ukraine a lot and continues to help (and, accordingly, requires replenishment) further.

But, in general, the war did not go at all as planned by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the possibilities of which, as the Pentagon honestly admitted, were too overestimated by them (as well as the motivation and morale of the Ukrainian people were significantly underestimated).

Thanks to the US intelligence information transmitted to Kyiv and its well-coordinated actions, the Armed Forces of Ukraine fully retained communications, command, and control and followed the operational scenario developed based on military forecasts.

Without a doubt, the majority of ordinary Americans and politicians from both main parties of the US Congress sincerely rejoiced at the steadfast resistance of the UAF and the courage of all Ukrainians.
However, the failure of Putin’s blitzkrieg and the transformation of the Ukrainian-Russian confrontation (which has been going on for 8 years) into a large-scale war with incredibly devastating consequences for Ukraine, the death of tens of thousands of civilians and 4 million refugees have created severe challenges for the US politicians.

Javelins and Stingers successfully repel Putin’s tanks and helicopters on the outskirts of Kharkiv and Mykolaiv.

Still, the entire territory of Ukraine, including Lviv (where the US embassy is now located), is regularly covered by guided, operational-tactical and ballistic missiles fired from the region of Belarus, the occupied Crimea, and aircraft flying to the Black Sea. In addition, intensive air bombardments continue, especially in the East and South of Ukraine (photos of Volnovakha and Mariupol destroyed to the ground went around all the news agencies).

To protect the civilian population today from death falling from above, and tomorrow to return Ukraine to its internationally recognized borders, the Armed Forces of Ukraine need the Patriot air defense system and fourth-generation American fighters.

Negotiations between Kyiv and Washington on the sale of the Patriot air defense system took place throughout 2021, but ended in nothing. The White House publicly announced the dates of the alleged Russian invasion of Ukraine but never sold the Patriot air defense system, which would protect the skies over Ukraine.

Also, Kyiv was going to hold a tender in early 2022 to purchase 12 units of a multi-role fighter, choosing between the F-16 Block 70/72 from Lockheed Martin and the F / A-18 Super Hornet from Boeing.

An unexpected option for Kyiv was that in 2021 two neutral countries decided to purchase fifth-generation F-35 fighters – Finland agreed to change the F / A-18C / D Hornet fleet, and Switzerland – its F-5 Tigers and F / A- 18 Hornets. Kyiv was ready to talk with Helsinki and Bern but did not have time to put its intentions into practice since a fierce war began on February 24.

Now the issue of supplying Ukraine with Patriot air defense systems and fighter jets is no longer a matter of eventual strengthening of the defense potential of one of the Eastern European countries but a consequence of the physical survival of the state and its 40 million citizens who were subjected to unprovoked aggression from the authoritarian neo-empire.

The ongoing war between the ex-metropolis and the ex-colony will undoubtedly lead to several very negative consequences on the world economy, trade, and the food market. However, the fall of Ukraine will cause tectonic shifts in the sphere of international law and the architecture of world security.

For a month now, the White House has been repeating the assertion that the training of Patriot air defense system operators should take up to 6 months, and F-15 and F-16 pilots – up to 4 months.

President V. Zelensky said that Ukraine is ready for a long and painful struggle for its freedom, national identity, and civilizational choice. And the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine assures that, due to emergency circumstances, the selected Ukrainian military is ready and able to shorten their training instead of months to weeks.

So, suppose the White House can, without unnecessary delay (which is measured by the lives of ordinary Ukrainians) send Patriot air defense systems and relatively outdated fighters to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

In that case, this will help to close the sky over Ukraine, push the Russian aggressor back to state borders and make this whole world safer. Well, if any of the billionaires listen to Sean Penn, then, in general, it will be great!