Biden guarantees billions for Zelensky, yet withholds one request
The United States is ramping up its assistance to Ukraine in its battle against Russia, pledging an extra billion dollars in aid and organizing a summit in Germany next month. President Joe Biden, while meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, stated that Ukraine will triumph in this conflict. Biden avoided commenting on Zelensky's aspirations for Western authorization to strike targets within Russia's heartland.
"Russia will not triumph, Ukraine will triumph," Biden welcomed Zelensky in the Oval Office at the White House, "and we will stand by your side every step of the way." Zelensky expressed gratitude for this support. Besides the additional $8 billion in aid, Biden also provided longer-range ammunition and invited Zelensky to a Ukraine Contact Group summit in Germany in October, to be attended by over 50 supporting nations.
Arms Restrictions Remain a Controversy
During his dialogue with Biden, Zelensky presented his strategy for victory to put an end to the war with Russia. Details of this strategy, which has been in the rumors for days, are still under wraps. Ukraine has been urging its allies to lift restrictions on Western-supplied weapons to launch offensives against targets within Russia.
The US, so far, has been hesitant, fearing an escalation that could lead to a full-scale conflict with Russia. Biden did not comment publicly on this matter. His spokesperson, Karine Jean-Pierre, indicated that no decisions or announcements about this issue were expected during the meeting with Zelensky. Other NATO nations such as Britain, Germany, and Italy, also have strict limits on using their weapons against Russian targets. However, the US and Britain have supplied Ukraine with weapons having the longest range.
Harris Counters Trump's "Surrender Proposals"
Following her meeting with Biden, Zelensky met with Democratic presidential candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris, who reaffirmed the US's "unwavering" support. Harris asserted that the Ukrainian people are defending themselves against a tyrant. She condemned demands from her Republican rival, Donald Trump, for Ukraine to swiftly agree to a deal with Russia to end the war. These demands echo the same appeals from Russian President Vladimir Putin, Harris stated. "Let it be clear: These are not peace proposals - these are proposals for surrender."
Biden will be succeeded by either Harris or Trump in January. Trump is a staunch critic of U.S. military aid to Ukraine and accuses Zelensky of turning down a "deal" with Russia to end the war. If Trump wins the presidential election on November 5, Kyiv fears that U.S. military aid will soon cease. However, Trump has agreed to meet with Zelensky. "He requested a meeting," Trump revealed at a press conference. The meeting is set for Friday morning at the Trump Tower in New York.
According to President Biden's National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Biden intends to utilize the remaining days of his tenure to bolster Ukraine's position in its conflict with Russia. Biden aims to place Ukraine in the most advantageous position to triumph over the next four months.
The additional billion dollars in aid brings the total US assistance to Ukraine to eight billion dollars during this conflict. Despite Ukraine's plea for lifting weapons restrictions, the US and other NATO nations such as Britain and Germany continue to impose strict limits on using their weapons against Russian targets.
