Biden announces increased military aid to Ukraine, Zelensky wants fewer restrictions on Russian targets

President Joe Biden announced Thursday that Washington will send a second Patriot air defense system to Ukraine as part of the latest round of aid to kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the $225 million aid package “good news.” But he again called on the United States to “lift all restrictions on Ukrainian soldiers” to drive Russian forces out of its territory.

In the words of Zelensky’s top political adviser earlier Thursday, “Ukrainians will be happy when we win this war” by using the weapons they have to take the fight to the airfields and depots deep inside Russia that support the Kremlin’s forces in Ukraine.

The United States has imposed limits on the firing of weapons systems, such as the Army’s Extended Range Tactical Missile (ATACM) system, at targets deep inside Russia that do not directly support military action.

The Patriot system and strategic and tactical air defense systems from other countries were delivered in part in response to a devastating Russian missile attack on a children’s hospital in the Ukrainian capital that killed 31 people (when?). The systems are also intended to mitigate the barrage of missiles and drones launched by Moscow this summer against Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, as Russia attempts to destroy its power grid and communications systems.

The presidents of the two countries noted that this was the eighth distribution of US aid to Ukraine since Biden took office.

“We will stay with you, period,” Biden said at the end of the meeting.

Target restrictions, however, have been a problem that has plagued U.S.-Ukraine relations since nearly the Russian invasion in February 2022. There are no restrictions on the use of weapons in areas of Ukraine occupied by Russia, such as Crimea. The province, which also houses the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet, was illegally seized in 2014.

At a public session of the NATO forum on Thursday morning, Andriy Yermak, the equivalent of the president’s chief of staff and chief political adviser, said: “Partners must lift all restrictions on the use of weapons, not only on Ukrainian territory, but have the ability to respond (to Russian attacks) including on Russian territory.”

He added that the Russian strike on the children’s hospital shows that there are no limits to the targets Russia will strike. Lifting the restrictions “would be a real game changer,” he said.

At a press conference on Wednesday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said: “Russia has attacked a neighbor (and) Ukraine has the right to defend itself.” In practical terms, this means Ukraine can “strike the military targets of the aggressors.”

Stoltenberg added that restrictions on the use and range of weapons varied from country to country. “The United States should speak for itself,” he added.

Zelensky said Ukraine wanted restrictions lifted to strike military targets “exactly where they are. … We … know where they are” stationed and where they could be fired to “kill our children. To me, this is not rhetoric. This is a real plan.”

In its declaration approved by all 32 members, the alliance pledged to provide at least $40 billion to Ukraine, the same amount as last year. But the allies pledged to support Ukraine in the long term, as long as the war continues.

The commitment is to “provide sustainable levels of security assistance to ensure Ukraine can prevail, taking into account Ukraine’s needs, our respective national budgetary processes, and the bilateral security arrangements that Allies have with Ukraine.”

At a NATO public forum on Wednesday, Stoltenberg said these “national budget procedures” refer to approval by Congress and individual parliaments of the need to cover their country’s share of spending.

Earlier this year, Stoltenberg called for $100 billion in aid.

Yermak stressed that Ukraine has signed more than 20 bilateral aid agreements this year, including with all G7 members, which is additional support for kyiv. The Group of Seven, or G7, is an intergovernmental political and economic forum consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

“There will be more signings,” Zelensky said at a news conference with Stoltenberg on Thursday.

Yermak said that, unlike last year, “we are satisfied with the results of the Washington summit,” as NATO membership is now a matter of time.

“Ukraine’s future is in NATO,” Stoltenberg said at the opening of the final session on Thursday. He added that the alliance welcomed Kiev’s progress on reforms and that, in continuing “this important work, we will support you on your irreversible path to NATO membership.”

During their discussion Thursday, Biden and Zelensky also called for a peace summit later this year to achieve a “just” end to the war.

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