Ukraine is intensifying its efforts to persuade the Biden administration to lift the ban on using certain weapons in their conflict with Russia. The Ukrainian authorities are leveraging their recent successes on the battlefield, particularly in the Kursk offensive, to push for the removal of restrictions on using long-range weapons to target Russian forces within Ukraine. However, as of now, the White House has not signaled its readiness to agree to this request.
According to a report by POLITICO on August 23, Ukrainian officials have been actively engaging with members of the U.S. Congress, issuing public statements, and meeting with senior American officials in an attempt to sway President Biden’s stance on the matter. With the upcoming U.S. elections and uncertainty surrounding American aid prospects beyond 2025, Kyiv is ramping up its pressure campaign. The Ukrainians are urging Biden and his top advisers to stop worrying about escalating tensions with Russia and allow Kyiv to fight the war on their own terms.
A source familiar with the situation indicated that some senior officials within the Biden administration’s national security apparatus are concerned that Kyiv might be engaging in public relations campaigns to preempt any potential significant territorial losses in the coming months. The Ukrainians, however, remain optimistic about their ability to achieve their goals and are seeking greater freedom of action.
One senior Ukrainian adviser expressed optimism about the possibility of Biden making significant changes in Ukraine’s favor before the upcoming elections. They stated, “There are signs that Biden may want to do something big for Ukraine, perhaps lift some restrictions, before the elections he’s not participating in. It’s not guaranteed, but we’re hearing that he’s considering it.”
POLITICO also highlighted the long-standing efforts by Ukraine to frame their lobbying as beneficial to Biden’s historical legacy, arguing that this administration would be remembered as either not doing enough to help Ukraine win or for maintaining restrictions that hindered their efforts. However, these arguments have not yet swayed Biden or his national security adviser, Sullivan, as the Pentagon and White House remain aligned in their current stance.
In early August, a bipartisan group of U.S. senators arranged a meeting with Sullivan to deliver a unified message. They believe that the Biden administration needs to change its position now to avoid being too late to make a difference. Their stance echoes that of many others, including Ukrainian officials, who argue that the U.S. should lift all restrictions to prevent Ukraine from losing the war, which would reflect poorly on the current government.
This approach has at times irked senior officials in the White House, who maintain that Washington has done more to support Kyiv than any other country and should not jeopardize its own national security interests for the sake of Ukraine. Officials from certain government departments have warned the Ukrainians that the U.S. ultimately hopes to reset relations with Russia, and lifting restrictions could undermine those efforts.
Overall, the Ukrainian lobbying efforts to lift weapon use bans have intensified in recent months, with Kyiv seeking to capitalize on its military successes to garner increased support from the Biden administration. While the outcome remains uncertain, the Ukrainian officials are hopeful that their efforts will eventually lead to the desired policy changes.