Washington.- The triumphant visit of President Volodymyr Zelensky to Washington ended with the promise of billions of dollars of additional US aid to Ukraine, although it was not what he wanted most: American battle tanks, bomber jets and precision missiles long range.
The United States has repeatedly said that there are weapons it will not send to Ukraine to fight invading Russian forces.
However, the last 10 months of the war have shown that the limits of US aid have shifted in Ukraine’s favor and Zelensky could get what he wants.
After his daring 10-hour trip to this nation’s capital on Wednesday, Zelensky departed with nearly $2 billion worth of new weapons and equipment — as well as a likely congressional commitment of nearly $50 billion in additional aid. for next year.
And while Zelensky didn’t get everything he wanted, John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said Thursday the United States was committed to providing the equipment Ukraine needs, though he declined to disclose specifics.
“Any president or commander in chief in similar circumstances would want to get everything they can get as fast as they can, and we are committed to doing our part and helping that,” he said.
He added that Biden and Zelensky did not spend most of the meeting reviewing Ukraine’s requests.
The discussion “was not about a list of additional capabilities. There was a broader and deeper discussion about the situation in Ukraine and what the future holds for it,” he said.
Zelensky’s trip was a vivid demonstration of his strategy to attract and pressure his allies. He mixed his appreciation for the aid provided by the United States with the increasing demands for weapons, knowing that he will not receive everything he wants but believes that the combination of his requests and changes on the battlefield will cause Washington to recalibrate its own assessment of the systems. that Ukraine can receive without risking a dangerous escalation with Russia.
