Zelenskyy Pressures U.S., U.K. for Greater Military Support as Biden, Starmer Hold Discussions
U.S. President Joe Biden and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer are scheduled to meet on Friday, September 13, 2024, as Ukraine intensifies its efforts to ease restrictions on using Western-supplied weapons for strikes deep into Russian territory. Recent signals suggest the White House may be considering a shift in its policy.
During a visit to Kyiv earlier this week, Ukrainian officials made renewed appeals to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.K. Foreign Minister David Lammy for permission to utilize long-range missiles to target Russian positions further inside the country. Blinken acknowledged the likelihood that Biden and Starmer would address this issue, stating that U.S. military support has evolved with changing dynamics on the battlefield, and “will adjust as necessary.”
This rhetoric echoes Blinken’s remarks in May when the U.S. first allowed Ukraine to use American-provided weaponry against limited Russian targets just across the border. So far, strikes have been restricted to threats directly tied to the conflict to avoid further escalation.
Although the topic is expected to dominate discussions, Biden and Starmer are not anticipated to announce any immediate changes in policy, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the planning who spoke on condition of anonymity.
In recent days, President Biden hinted that a potential policy shift might be on the horizon. When asked by reporters about easing weapons restrictions for Ukraine, he commented, “We’re working on it.”
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continues to press for broader military capabilities. He has urged the U.S. and its allies to permit attacks on Russian airbases and missile launch sites located far from the front lines, especially as Russia has escalated its strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in preparation for winter.
Zelenskyy has also called for the provision of more advanced long-range weaponry, including the U.S. Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), to enhance Ukraine’s ability to strike deeper within Russian territory.
