During the past two days of the NATO summit, Ukrainian President Zelensky has received substantial new aid from allies, and a promise that Ukraine is on the irreversible path to joining NATO. On Thursday, July 11th, he further urged the United States to lift restrictions on the use of weapons and allow Ukraine to deeply attack military targets inside Russia.
Accompanied by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, Zelensky stated before the close of the summit, “If we want to win, if we want to defeat the enemy, if we want to save our country and defend it, we must lift all restrictions.”
At this summit, Ukraine has secured a new military aid package to strengthen its defense against Russia.
On Thursday, U.S. President Biden reiterated support for Ukraine, announcing a new military aid plan and promising Zelensky, “We will stand by you without any doubt.”
According to the Associated Press, Biden stated that this new round of aid is his eighth plan since taking office, with the latest aid package worth $225 million, including another set of Patriot missile systems to enhance Ukraine’s air defense capabilities against Russian airstrikes.
Just on Monday, July 8th, Russian missiles struck multiple cities in Ukraine, including a children’s hospital in Kyiv, resulting in dozens of deaths.
In his speech at the NATO summit on Tuesday evening, Biden announced that NATO allies would provide Ukraine with dozens of tactical air defense systems in the coming months.
Biden stated that Ukraine “will receive this aid before any other country,” and “overall, Ukraine will receive hundreds of additional interceptors next year to help protect Ukrainian cities from Russian missile attacks.”
Currently, the Biden administration does not allow Ukraine to use U.S.-provided weapons for long-range strikes inside Russia, citing concerns that wider use of U.S.-made weapons could provoke Russia and escalate the war. However, Zelensky has been requesting greater freedom to use American weapons to target critical military bases and facilities deeper inside Russia.
Stoltenberg supports Ukraine’s appeal to strike more military targets inside Russia, stating that it is Ukraine’s right to self-defense.
He stated, “As Russia has opened a new front… the only way to strike military targets, military launchers or airports attacking Ukraine, is to strike military targets inside Russia.”
On Thursday, Zelensky also participated in the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting with allied leaders, a forum established a year ago to provide a platform for equal exchange between the 32 allies and Kyiv to share concerns and information.
On Wednesday, NATO leaders assured Ukraine that it is “irreversibly” on the path to joining NATO, although Ukraine can only join after the war ends, at which point NATO allies will recognize that Ukraine has met all conditions.