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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reiterated his call to US lawmakers for quicker weapon deliveries and permission to use US-supplied systems for deeper strikes into Russia.

What’s the deal: During a closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill with top US senators on both sides of the political aisle, President Zelensky stressed the need for more advanced military support, including F-16 fighter jets, air defense systems, and long-range missiles capable of striking deep into Russia. He argued that with these additional resources, Ukraine could significantly escalate the pressure on Russia, which he says would force Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate a peace deal by next year.  

What lawmakers in the room are saying: Following the meeting, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) said, “Congress has acted, but the administration resists following through on the weapons that the Congress has already appropriated money for. And they are in our stockpiles, and [Biden administration officials] have been slow-walking delivering them to the Ukrainians. “The message is that the longer that we slow-walk the weapons and put restrictions on their ability to use them against Russian stockpiles, energy resources and the like, the longer this war will go on.”

Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) said, “He’s saying that within the [military aid] package that we’ve already provided that if he can get the right things that he believes he can force Putin to the table next year and start to negotiate peace. I think that’s the real upshot.”

Speaker of the House skips meeting: House Speaker Mike Johnson notably declined to meet with President Zelensky, reflecting growing tensions between Zelensky and some top Republican lawmakers. This came after Zelensky visited a munitions factory in Pennsylvania with Democratic politicians, which Republicans criticized as interference in US domestic politics. Further fueling the controversy, Zelensky labeled Senator JD Vance as “too radical” for opposing more aid to Ukraine, prompting Republicans to launch a probe into whether the Biden administration was using Zelensky’s visit to boost Vice President Harris politically.