BRUSSELS – When the Soviet Union collapsed, European nations reaped the ‘peace dividend’, reducing it drastically their defense budgets, their armies and their arsenals.

With the rise of Al Qaeda, Nearly a decade later, terrorism became the target, requiring several military investments and lighter expeditionary forces.

Even NATO’s long engagement in Afghanistan bore little resemblance to a ground war in Europe, heavy with artillery and tanks, that nearly every defense ministry thought would never happen again.

But so it was.

In Ukraine, the kind of European war that was believed inconceivable it is wiping out the modest reserves of artillery, munitions and air defenses of what some in NATO call the “bonsai armies” from Europe, for tiny Japanese trees. Even the mighty United States has only limited supplies of the weapons Ukrainians want and need, and Washington is unwilling to divert key weapons from sensitive regions like Taiwan and Korea, where China and North Korea are constantly testing the limits.

Now, nine months into the war, the West’s fundamental lack of preparedness has sparked a crazy ride provide Ukraine with what it needs, while replenishing NATO arsenals.

As both sides consume arms and ammunition at a rate not seen since World War II, the competition to keep stockpiles ready has become a critical front that could prove decisive for Ukraine’s effort.