While the Europeans havent been as openly supportive of that doctrine, they in many ways have followed it as well... while I don't agree with it, I can understand its appeal..
Prior to Russia invading Ukraine this most recent time, while Russia was clearly the larger and more concerning military threat, Ukraine was very rightfully so, seen as a major cyber threat to both the US and to Europe.. Not only did Ukraine actively and routinely participate in state sponsored cyber attacks on US and European businesses and the US and European governments, many of the Russian state sponsored criminal elements that regularly attack the US and European government and businesses were manned/staffed by Ukranians.. Cyber offensive operations (criminal) is something the Ukrainians have had a global reputation for since cyber became a thing..
Its not a coincidence that the shift in Cyber offensive operations against the US and Europe has moved away from Russia and Ukraine to China and North Korea over the last 3 years and that huge cyber criminal elements like Conti Group (Russian sponsored, but largely Ukranian staffed) have all but fallen by the wayside as the two countries obviously don't get along even at the civilian level anymore, and most of the people with the sort of skills necessary to conduct offensive cyber operations have a new focus and/or have been killed..
I would imagine when the war first started many of the discussions within the most senior offices of the EU, UK, other European countries, and the US involved the idea of supporting Ukraine just enough to let both sides get hammered and destroy each others cyber capabilities.. and once that happened, then we move in and support Ukraine to the degree that other national interests are furthered..
One of my greatest concerns in this conflict is.. while their cities are decimated, their people are being killed in large numbers, their economy is in ruin, etc.. Ukrainian and Russian personnel are getting BETTER at things like cyber warfare, drone warfare, etc.. and may emerge as an even greater threat (in time) once the war ends.. right now their focus is on each other..
What happens when the next generation of Ukraninan and Russian cyber geeks have nothing better to do than attack the US Federal Reserve, the State of Ohio, and Citi Bank.. and are motivated by a foreign government offering to fatten their wallets?
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