Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to visit Washington next week for talks with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Zelensky is seeking US support to allow Ukraine to use Western-provided weapons to strike deeper into Russia. Biden has expressed his commitment to supporting Ukraine in defending its freedom and independence during Zelensky’s visit. However, the Biden administration is still hesitant to give Ukraine the authority to launch long-range missiles deeper into Russia and is requesting more detailed information on how these weapons would be used in the broader strategy for the war.
US officials have asked Ukraine to clarify its combat objectives should the restrictions on long-range weaponry be loosened. There are concerns within the administration that allowing Ukraine to use long-range missiles would have limited impact and come with significant risks. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Russia would be “at war” with the US and its NATO allies if Ukraine is granted permission to use these weapons. Defense officials in the US have emphasized that Ukraine already has some long-range drones in use to hit targets deeper into Russia and that the long-range missiles are not numerous.
During his visit, Zelensky is scheduled to meet with Harris separately, who is seen as a potential successor to Biden. The two leaders last met in July at an international gathering in Switzerland to discuss the war in Ukraine, shortly before Biden announced his decision not to seek reelection and endorsed Harris as his preferred candidate. Former President Donald Trump, who has expressed a desire to end the war if he were to win the November election, has proposed establishing a “demilitarized zone” as part of his plan. His running mate, Sen. JD Vance, has suggested that Ukraine would not try to reclaim territory currently occupied by Russia and would agree to not join NATO under Trump’s plan.
