On Friday, President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Keir Starmer are set to meet at the White House to discuss Ukraine’s request to ease restrictions on the use of weapons from the United States and Britain. Ukraine seeks approval to use certain weapons to target deeper into Russia, in response to which Russian President Vladimir Putin cautioned that such actions could provoke a conflict with NATO.
Although the weapon use issue is likely to be a prominent topic during the meeting, it is not expected that any policy changes will be announced immediately, according to U.S. officials familiar with the meeting’s planning. This week, during a visit to Kyiv by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Ukrainian officials reiterated their appeal to utilize Western-supplied long-range missiles against targets in Russia.
There have been indications that Biden might consider altering U.S. policy in response to the evolving situation in Ukraine. The U.S. had previously allowed Ukraine to use American-provided weapons near the Russian border, mainly targeting cross-border threats. However, there are concerns about escalating the conflict further.
Putin warned that permitting long-range strikes could lead to NATO countries, the U.S., and European nations being at war with Russia. The Kremlin has consistently accused NATO countries of meddling in the conflict and threatened retaliation. In response, Starmer emphasized that Britain does not seek conflict with Russia, highlighting Ukraine’s right to self-defense.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been urging U.S. and allied military leaders to expand support. He argues for access to more advanced weaponry, including the Army Tactical Missile System, to counter Russian assaults on critical infrastructure. However, American officials have expressed reservations about providing such systems, citing limitations in both capability and quantity.
The meeting between Biden and Starmer is also expected to touch on other global issues, including the situation in the Middle East. This discussion comes as the U.S. administration raised concerns about Iran supplying short-range ballistic weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine, deepening the cooperation between Russia and Iran and posing broader security challenges.
The White House talks are scheduled ahead of the U.N. General Assembly meeting, aiming to align strategies on various fronts, such as Ukraine, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific region. There is a growing emphasis on connecting the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, underscoring the complex geopolitical dynamics.
