Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov recently met with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to discuss potential additional military aid for Kiev. This visit follows renewed requests from Ukraine for Washington to lift its restrictions on the use of US-supplied weapons for long-range strikes deep inside Russia. Earlier this week, Politico cited anonymous sources claiming Umerov and Zelensky’s chief of staff Andrey Yermak would attempt to persuade American backers to reconsider their stance.
On Friday, the Pentagon’s Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh announced that Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III held bilateral talks with Ukrainian Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov on Ukraine’s ongoing operations and security assistance priorities. The two officials discussed air defense systems, artillery, and armored vehicles needed to help Ukraine “build additional combat power.
Another significant topic addressed during the meeting was the upcoming meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group scheduled for September 6th in Ramstein, Germany. This gathering will include more than 50 countries supporting Kiev, who will come together to deliberate on plans for further military supplies for Ukraine to address its immediate and long-term needs. Austin pledged to “continue to build on the strategic partnership between” the US and Ukraine.
In response, Pentagon spokesman Major-General Patrick Ryder clarified that Washington’s policy has not changed, meaning that Ukraine is only allowed to use US-supplied weapons for defending against cross-border attacks, not for “deep strikes” into what the US recognizes as Russian territory. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters that Washington would continue discussions with Ukrainians on the issue but maintain their privacy.
Zelensky insisted there should be no restrictions on the range of weapons for Ukraine. On Friday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova claimed that the administration of US President Joe Biden is preparing to make new concessions to Zelensky and give him a free hand to use virtually any type of American weapons, including attacks deep into Russian territory.
Zakharova’s remarks echoed those made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday when he insisted that the West does not want to avoid escalation. Lavrov warned that Kiev’s backers would be “playing with fire” if they were to allow Ukraine to use their weapons for long-range strikes deep inside Russia.