“CLEAR DECISION”
Biden said on Tuesday that he was “working” on Ukraine’s demands to use longer-range missiles, while top US and British diplomats Antony Blinken and David Lammy made a rare joint visit to Kyiv on Wednesday.
Biden has strongly supported Ukraine since Russia’s invasion but has been risk-averse about stepping up to new kinds of weapons deliveries, fearful of stoking nuclear tensions with Putin.
His reticence about allowing Ukraine to use longer-range US missiles follows similar delays on HIMARS rockets, tanks and F-16 jets — all of which he eventually approved.
But the looming US election on Nov 5 means the clock is ticking on a decision.
Trump has repeatedly pledged to push through a quick deal to end the war if elected – a deal many Ukrainians fear would force them to accept Russia’s territorial gains.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz meanwhile doubled down on Berlin’s refusal to send long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine.
“This decision will not change,” Scholz said when asked about the issue at a press conference.
