Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to visit Washington next Thursday to hold talks with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Zelenskyy is advocating for the United States to permit Ukraine to utilize Western-provided weapons to target deeper into Russia. President Biden expressed his anticipation for the meeting and affirmed America’s commitment to supporting Ukraine in its fight for freedom and independence.

However, the Biden administration is hesitant about granting Ukraine permission to launch long-range missiles into Russia. U.S. officials are seeking more detailed information regarding Kyiv’s planned use of the weapons and how they align with the broader strategy for the conflict. There are concerns that easing restrictions on long-range weapons could have limited effectiveness and pose significant risks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has cautioned that enabling Ukraine to utilize long-range weapons could escalate tensions, even suggesting that it could lead to a conflict with the United States and its NATO allies. Despite this, Ukrainian defense officials argue that the number of long-range missiles is restricted and emphasize that Ukraine already employs its own long-range drones to target areas deeper into Russia.

During his visit, Zelenskyy is also set to meet separately with Vice President Harris, who is a potential successor to President Biden. The two last met in July at an international conference in Switzerland to discuss the conflict. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump has indicated his plans to swiftly end the war if he wins the November election, proposing the establishment of a demilitarized zone and suggesting Ukraine should not reclaim occupied territories or join NATO.