Dual-Use Goods Are Fueling Russia’s War on Ukraine

Austin Wright

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Russia’s military efforts in Ukraine remain heavily dependent on Western technologies, despite the West’s best efforts to cut off the supply of critical parts. In the face of extensive sanctions, Russia’s war machine has still been able to acquire the inputs necessary for its advanced weaponry. Further military aid does little for Kyiv unless the West finally puts a stranglehold on the Russian military by reexamining its export control standards for dual-use components.

Export controls have been a long-vested element of the United States’ and European Union’s security agendas, with particular focus on them since the early 2000s. In the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, the fear that rogue entities could acquire weapons of mass destruction, also known as WMDs, stoked action by the international community. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 was, in part, adopted not only to formally codify this threat but also to identify the obligations of states to prevent the spread of these weapons.

The resolution called for all states to adopt and enforce domestic controls over WMDs, their means of delivery, and related materials—which in practice meant extensive export controls. As such, Western states have taken great care to improve internal controls over dual-use goods and general exports with military applications. In 2009, the EU codified its efforts by setting up a community regime for the control of exports, transfer, brokering, and transit of dual-use items.