HISTORICAL AND LEGAL FOUNDATIONS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LEND-LEASE PROGRAM IN 19411945 AND MODERN PROSPECTS OF LEND-LEASE FOR UKRAINE

Abstract

The Russian-Ukrainian war, which began in February 2014 with the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, opened a new page in the history of our country. In February 2022, Russian troops launched a large-scale invasion of the territory of Ukraine, but encountered a resolute repulse from the Defense Forces of Ukraine. However, as the scale of hostilities increased, so did the need for help from Western democratic states to Ukraine.

The article is devoted to conducting a retrospective analysis of the historical and legal foundations of the implementation of the lend-lease program during the Second World War and promising ways of its application in Ukraine in today's conditions.

During the retrospective analysis, it was determined that the supply of lend-lease made it possible to solve the main problematic issues of the Soviet economy, namely the production of gasoline, explosives, aluminum, other non-ferrous metals, radio stations, trucks, etc. The significance of the military aid provided under the Lend-Lease Act of 1941, which was crucial for strengthening the potential of US allied states in armed confrontation with Hitler's coalition states, is established.

The role of the decision on the introduction of lend-lease for Ukraine by the United States is given in terms of the role of Ukraine in restraining Russian armed aggression and preventing its spread to the west, in particular to the states of NATO's eastern flank. At the same time, it is proposed to consider that lend-lease for Ukraine is the receipt by our state of strategically important military aid for the further effective repulsion of the aggression of the armed forces of the Russian Federation in view of the risks of prolonging the military conflict. Today, a similar step is a powerful help in strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities and resisting Russia's armed aggression, which improves the prospects for the liberation of temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories.

It has been established that Lend-Lease will not only be a guarantee of our victory on the battlefield, but will also stimulate the development of the defense industry of our country, and therefore will become a powerful catalyst for the development of the Ukrainian economy.