How is this so hard to grasp?

I thought the same when reading that obvious cia plant article floating around where some reporter goes to Ukraine and talks to them about weapons to let us see what the American taxpayer is getting for their money.

At one point they ask the officer what would have happened without the American weapons and the guy says something to the effect of “Ukraine would have been overrun”

And I just have to wonder how many ordinary people would still be alive and back in their homes if that had been the outcome