Pence: Stopping ballistic attacks in Ukraine will ‘take the last fighting tool out of Vladimir Putin’s hands’

# Why This Matters Ballistic missile defense represents a decisive asymmetry in Ukraine's favor—Russia has conducted systematic campaigns targeting Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, power grids, and military facilities with cruise and ballistic missiles, leaving the country unable to effectively counter these strikes. If Ukraine acquires advanced air defense systems like the Patriot or THAAD, it would fundamentally degrade Russia's ability to conduct these costly long-range attacks, forcing Moscow to rely on less effective alternatives or accept attrition of its remaining missile inventory. This shift would have immediate humanitarian consequences: fewer strikes on power plants and hospitals would reduce civilian suffering through winter months, while strategically constraining Russia's offensive options. Pence's framing also signals potential U.S. political willingness to escalate support despite earlier concerns about provoking direct NATO-Russia confrontation, suggesting a recalibration toward viewing Ukraine's victory conditions as worth the risk.