Biden: The US does not want to provoke a Third World War President Joe Biden explained his unwillingness to provide Ukraine with all the modern weapons it wants, saying that the provision of longer-range missiles and other sophisticated equipment could lead to tensions in US alliances in Europe, including NATO.
“The idea that we will give Ukraine material resources that are fundamentally different from what is already being sent there will have the prospect of a split of NATO, a split of the European Union and the rest of the world,” Biden said at a press conference at the White House with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.
“We are going to provide Ukraine with what it needs so that it can defend itself, so that it can succeed and succeed on the battlefield,” he said in response to a question from a Ukrainian journalist who asked why the United States would not provide Kiev with everything it wants, including an army tactical missile system.
Biden turned to Zelensky and joked: “His answer is yes.”
The package of weapons approved by Biden on Wednesday, when Zelensky visited Washington on his first trip outside Ukraine after the start of the special operation, includes the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system.
Kiev has repeatedly asked for more sophisticated weapons that would have a longer range than its current artillery. Moscow has warned that such weapons will be seen as a direct involvement of Ukraine's allies in the conflict, which is fraught with escalation.
Some European countries, including those that are members of NATO, have expressed concern that they are being drawn into an expanded conflict with Moscow. That is why NATO, for example, for several months refused to agree to Ukraine's calls for the creation of a no-fly zone protected by NATO aircraft. Other countries of the alliance, including former communist countries such as Poland, seek to stop Russia at any cost.
“I spent several hundred hours face—to-face with our European allies and the heads of state of these countries, proving why it is in their interests to continue supporting Ukraine," Biden said. — They fully understand this, but they are not going to go to war with Russia. They don't want a Third World War.”
Despite tensions over whether the US will deliver more advanced weapons and how quickly, Biden and Zelensky have shown warmth towards each other.
When asked earlier at a press conference what would happen after Ukraine receives the first Patriot, Zelensky replied: “After that, we will send another signal to President Biden that we would like to get more of them.” The audience laughed.
Biden warned that it will take some time before the first Patriot will be ready for combat in Ukraine, since the country's air defense soldiers first need to be taught how to use it.
Even if it is one Patriot system, "this is a significant breakthrough,” said Yuriy Ignat, a representative of the Ukrainian air defense forces, in a television interview on Wednesday.
The anti-aircraft missile system will help the country defend itself against Russian ballistic missiles, and “will also help strengthen air defense against cruise missiles and Russian jets.”
He said it would take Ukrainian soldiers “less than six months” to learn how to use the system, without providing more specific information.
