WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is traveling to Washington next Thursday for talks with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, urging the U.S. to allow Ukraine to use Western-supplied weapons to push deeper into Russia.
“I look forward to hosting my friend President Zelenskyy of Ukraine at the White House next week,” Biden said in a message posted on X. “During his visit, I will reaffirm America’s commitment to supporting Ukraine as it defends its freedom and independence.”
The Biden administration remains unconvinced that Ukraine should be given the authority to fire long-range missiles deeper into Russia. U.S. officials say they want more detailed information about how Kiev would use the weapons and how they fit into the broader strategy for the war.
US officials have asked Ukraine to more clearly define its combat objectives if the administration relaxes restrictions on long-range weapons.
Administration officials are concerned that easing the restrictions would have limited impact and come with great risks. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned last week that Russia would be “at war” with the United States and its NATO allies if they allowed Ukraine to use the long-range weapons.
U.S. defense officials have repeatedly argued that the number of long-range missiles is limited and that Ukraine already uses its own long-range drones to hit targets further inside Russia.
It is striking that Zelenskyy is consulting separately with Harris, who wants to succeed Biden.
The last time she met the Ukrainian president was in July at an international meeting in Switzerland to discuss the war, shortly before Biden announced he was suspending his re-election campaign and endorsed Harris.
Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he would end the war as quickly as possible if he won the November election.
His running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance, said in a recent interview with the “Shawn Ryan Show” that Trump’s plan would include establishing a “demilitarized zone,” that Ukraine would not reclaim territory occupied by Russia, and that it would agree not to join NATO.
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AP journalist Lolita C. Baldor contributed reporting.
