No consensus on long-range weapons for Ukraine, Biden says
US President Joe Biden sought to bolster Western support for Ukraine during a short visit to Berlin Friday, a day after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy outlined his “victory plan” at a European Union summit meeting, Bloomberg reported.
The Ukrainian leader drew support from Western partners — including for a bid to secure an invitation to join NATO as potential leverage over the Kremlin — though divisions within the alliance remain, including between some key capitals, according to officials familiar with the reception to Kyiv’s framework.
“We cannot let up, we must sustain our support,” Biden said in the German capital. “In my view, we must keep going until Ukraine wins a just and durable peace consistent with the UN charter, until once again human dignity prevails.”
On his departure, Biden said there was “no consensus” on delivering long-range weapons for Kyiv to make deep strikes within Russian territory.
Still, a meeting of NATO defense ministers this week revealed greater openness to at least discussing an invitation to join the alliance, according to officials familiar with the discussions. But there was little scope of movement ahead of the Nov. 5 election in the US, they said.