No. of Recommendations: 8
I think the point was that if he (Putin) knew that the launch codes were encrypted, and that nobody loyal to Ukraine had access to those codes, then yes, he would have invaded.
Somewhere, somehow, there is a box which does the encryption and then pushes a button (connects a relay) which says ‘go”. If you have the physical missile, warhead, and box - and if you have *some* capability in mechanicals and computers (which Ukraine does) and if you have 20 years to figure it out, I suspect this would not be an insurmountable problem.
And again, if you[re Putin you don’t know if they did or not . That’s “deterrence”, and apparently worth more than a “we’ll stand by you” from the US.
[Here’s what Google AI answers to “Does Ukraine have a computer industry?”
Yes, Ukraine has a thriving computer industry that's a key part of its economy. Ukraine is a global leader in IT outsourcing, and its tech sector is a major exporter of services.
Key facts
Ukraine's tech sector is one of the country's largest exporters of services, behind only food products.
Ukraine has over 285,000 skilled software developers, one of the largest pools in Eastern Europe.
Major tech hubs include Kyiv, Lviv, and Dnipro.
The tech sector accounts for nearly 13% of total exports, generating over $7 billion in revenue in 2024.
The tech sector contributes significantly to foreign exchange inflows.
The tech sector has preserved approximately 663,000-668,000 jobs.
I don’t know if 20 years is enough time to solve the problem, but I suspect you could make a pretty good dog and pony show of doing so.
