Zelensky to meet Biden, Harris as Ukraine pushes US to ease restrictions on long-range weapons

WASHINGTON — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will travel to Washington next Thursday for talks with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris as he pushes for the United States to allow Ukraine to use Western-supplied weapons to strike deeper into Russia.

“I look forward to welcoming my friend Ukrainian President Zelensky to 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 in defending its freedom and independence.”

The Biden administration remains unconvinced that it should give Ukraine permission to launch long-range missiles deeper into Russia, and U.S. officials say they are seeking more detailed information about how kyiv would use such weapons and how they fit into the broader war strategy.

U.S. officials said they have asked Ukraine to more clearly specify its combat objectives if the administration gives the green light to easing restrictions on long-range weapons.

Trump administration officials worry that easing restrictions will have limited impact and carry 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 long-range weapons.

U.S. defense officials have repeatedly said that long-range missiles are in limited supply and that Ukraine already uses its own long-range drones to strike targets further away in Russia.

Zelensky is meeting separately with Harris, who is seeking 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 dropping his re-election bid and endorsing Harris.

Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he would move quickly to end the war if he wins the November election.

His running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance, said in a recent interview on the “Shawn Ryan Show” that Trump’s plan would include establishing a “demilitarized zone” and that Ukraine would not reclaim territory occupied by Russia and would agree not to join NATO.