WASHINGTON — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to travel to Washington next Thursday to meet with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and urge the United States to allow Ukraine to use weapons provided by Western countries to launch deeper attacks on Russia.
“I look forward to welcoming my friend, Ukrainian President Zelensky, to the White House next week,” Biden said in a message posted to X. “During his visit, I will reaffirm America's commitment to helping Ukraine defend its freedom and independence.”
The Biden administration remains unsure whether to give Ukraine the authority to launch long-range missiles deeper into Russia, and U.S. officials have said they want more details about how Ukraine might use the missiles and how that fits into the war's broader strategy.
U.S. officials said the administration would ask Ukraine to be more specific about its combat objectives if it approves loosening restrictions on long-range weapons.
Administration officials worry the loosening of restrictions will have limited effect and comes with big risks. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned last week that Russia would be at “war” with the United States and its NATO allies if it allowed Ukraine to use long-range weapons.
U.S. defense officials have repeatedly insisted that the number of long-range missiles is limited and that Ukraine is already using its own long-range drones to strike targets further into Russia.
Zelensky has been noted as meeting separately with Harris, who is seeking to succeed Biden.
She last met with the Ukrainian president to discuss the war at an international conference in Switzerland in July, shortly before Biden announced he was giving up reelection and endorsing Harris.
Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he would act swiftly to end the war if he wins the November election.
Senator J.D. Vance, Trump's running mate, said in a recent interview on the Shawn Ryan Show that Trump's plan would include the creation of a “demilitarized zone” and that Ukraine would agree not to return territory occupied by Russia and not join NATO.
