What you’re not being told about the cost of the Ukraine War

Paul J. Warburg 18 min

The war in Ukraine is not so expensive that the United States cannot afford to continue supporting Ukraine. It's actually so affordable that from one perspective, we can't afford not to support them.

  • Donald Trump

Chapters

  1. 0:00

    The Psychological Trap of Large Numbers

    Explains how human brains struggle with billions, making government spending seem larger than it is relative to national wealth.

  2. 4:14

    Contextualizing the Cost via GDP

    Compares total spending to the US economy's size, showing the cost is a negligible fraction of national wealth.

  3. 8:08

    The Reality of Allocated Funds

    Clarifies that allocated money differs from sent money and often funds equipment the US would have built anyway.

  4. 13:32

    Opportunity Cost and Strategic Value

    Argues the war is a bargain because it neutralizes Russia using equipment the US was decommissioning. Concludes that supporting Ukraine provides free battle-tested knowledge and tactics back to the US at no extra cost.

Key points

  • 1:02

    Human brains cannot comprehend numbers in the billions, making large sums seem larger than they are relative to national wealth.

  • 4:14

    One billion dollars is a rounding error when compared to the United States annual economy of approximately 28 trillion dollars.

  • 4:14

    Total spending on Ukraine over three years represents only 39 cents out of every $100 of the US economy.

  • 8:08

    Only about 10% to 50% of allocated funds have actually been sent to Ukraine as aid.

  • 9:17

    Allocated money often pays for new equipment the US military would have built and decommissioned regardless of the war.

  • 11:18

    Even if spending doubles to $250 billion, it remains a negligible fraction of the national budget.

  • 11:54

    Military aid to Ukraine is roughly one-tenth of the total annual US military budget over three years.

  • 13:32

    Ukraine has decimated the Russian military for less than 10% of the US annual defense budget.

  • 13:32

    The war provides the US with free battle-tested knowledge and tactics that would otherwise cost human lives.

Who and where

People · 1

  • Drawing of Donald Trump

    Donald Trump 1

    President of the United States (2017–2021; since 2025)

    Photo 1

1. Photo: Daniel Torok, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons · Wikidata · redrawn in our house style (Donald Trump)

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