WASHINGTON – Ukraine has called on NATO allies to remove restrictions on its use of long-range weapons against Russian targets, asserting that this move would significantly impact its war efforts against Moscow. This request comes amid strong criticism from China, which denounced NATO’s remarks on its support for Russia as biased and malicious.
During a summit in Washington, NATO members expressed their support for Ukraine, promising additional aid and affirming their commitment to Ukraine’s path to NATO membership. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized the alliance’s unity and determination in opposing Moscow’s aggression.
“At this summit, we are turning a corner and laying the foundations for Ukraine to prevail,” Stoltenberg stated. “We send a strong message of unity and resolve to Moscow that violence and intimidation do not pay, and that Ukraine can count on NATO now for the long haul.”
U.S. President Joe Biden, in a press conference, mistakenly referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as “President Putin” before correcting himself, a slip likely to fuel discussions about his fitness for the 2024 presidential race. Biden also mistakenly referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as “Vice President Trump.”
Zelenskiy urged allies to maintain their unified support and expedite the delivery of new aid. “If we want to win, to save our country and defend it, we need to lift all limitations,” he said. Andryi Yermak, Zelenskiy’s chief of staff, echoed this sentiment, stating that removing restrictions on weapon use would be a “game-changer.”
NATO members have varying policies on how Ukraine can use donated weapons, with the United States allowing their use only within Russia’s borders against targets supporting military operations in Ukraine. Biden noted that the U.S. assesses daily how far Ukraine should be allowed to go.
The summit also highlighted differing views within NATO, with Hungary opposing the alliance becoming an “anti-China” bloc and expressing concerns about Ukraine’s membership potentially weakening NATO’s unity. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s recent visits to Kyiv, Moscow, and Beijing have caused friction among NATO members.
Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser, commented on Orban’s trip to Moscow, emphasizing that any peace efforts without Ukraine’s consent are inconsistent with U.S. foreign policy.
The NATO declaration criticized China for being a “decisive enabler” of Russia’s war in Ukraine. In response, China accused NATO of harboring a “Cold War mentality” and spreading misinformation.
Stoltenberg reiterated NATO’s stance, warning that China cannot continue to support the largest military conflict in Europe without facing repercussions. Despite China’s objections, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and Australia have strengthened their ties with NATO, concerned about China’s regional pressure and claims over Taiwan.
Fears of a potential shift in U.S. support for Ukraine and NATO due to the upcoming presidential election were evident at the summit. Former President Donald Trump, a candidate in the election, has previously questioned NATO’s value and expressed skepticism about U.S. military aid to Ukraine.
Zelenskiy met with both Republican and Democratic lawmakers in Washington, seeking to solidify bipartisan support in case of a change in U.S. leadership. NATO allies pledged at least 40 billion euros ($43 billion) in military aid to Ukraine over the next year, although they stopped short of the multi-year commitment Stoltenberg had sought.
