What Would Have Happened If the Green Berets Helped Ukraine?
- Army Special Forces - Green Berets - to Ukraine for training, advising, and assisting Ukrainian troops.He maintains that assessment in 2026, despite stalled peace talks and a shifting...
- Petit's original argument, outlined in his 2024 article "Send in the A Team: A Graduated Response for Ukraine," posited that deploying Green berets required minimal adaptation of existing...
- As of January 22, 2026, Petit observes a decline in America's political will to both aid Ukraine and actively challenge Russia.
Green Berets in Ukraine: A Revisited Argument
In 2024, Brian Petit proposed deploying U.S. Army Special Forces – Green Berets - to Ukraine for training, advising, and assisting Ukrainian troops.He maintains that assessment in 2026, despite stalled peace talks and a shifting geopolitical landscape, arguing the need for political will and a recalculated risk assessment remains critical.
The 2024 proposal
Petit’s original argument, outlined in his 2024 article “Send in the A Team: A Graduated Response for Ukraine,” posited that deploying Green berets required minimal adaptation of existing skills and strategies. He emphasized that the primary obstacle wasn’t logistical or tactical, but rather a lack of political resolve and a cautious approach to risk. The core idea was to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities through specialized training and support without directly engaging in large-scale combat operations.
Current Political Will and Risk Calculus
As of January 22, 2026, Petit observes a decline in America’s political will to both aid Ukraine and actively challenge Russia. This shift is evidenced by ongoing debates within the U.S. Congress regarding further aid packages to ukraine. On December 22, 2025, a $61 billion aid package for Ukraine was stalled in the Senate due to Republican opposition, linked to demands for stricter border security measures in the United States (The New York Times, “$61 Billion Ukraine Aid Package Stalls in senate,” December 23, 2025).
Petit contends that the risk calculus has also changed. While direct military confrontation between the U.S.and Russia remains a significant concern, the continued stalemate in Ukraine and Russia’s increasingly aggressive rhetoric present a different set of risks - namely, the potential for a prolonged conflict and the erosion of international norms. He believes a more proactive approach, including the deployment of Green Berets, could mitigate these risks by strengthening Ukraine’s position and deterring further Russian aggression.
“The situation hasn’t improved; it’s arguably worsened,” Petit stated in a recent interview. “The initial hope for a fast resolution has faded, and the stakes have only increased. A calibrated, risk-aware deployment of Special Forces remains a viable option to support Ukraine and signal U.S. commitment.”
Image: Sgt. Patrik Orcutt via DVIDS