In the wake of relentless Russian air strikes, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Western allies to remove restrictions on the use of weapons against Russian military targets.
What Happened: The request comes amid a heated conflict between Kyiv and Moscow, with potential peace talks hinted at by both sides before the end of the year. Ukrainian forces have boldly invaded Russia’s Kursk region, marking the first foreign army occupation of Russian territory since World War II. However, Russian forces continue to push forward in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region.
Zelenskyy believes that in order to gain an advantage and negotiate a fair end to the war, Ukraine needs to strike deep within enemy lines to weaken Russia’s military strength. However, Ukraine is heavily dependent on its Western allies for arms and ammunition, especially those capable of hitting long-range targets, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday.
Despite providing specific target information to Washington for strikes using U.S. Atacms missiles, as well as British Storm Shadow and French Scalp missiles, Kyiv’s Western allies have been reluctant to deliver such powerful weapons or allow their use within Russia.
The Biden administration argues that using these weapons inside Russia would make little strategic difference, a claim Zelenskyy vehemently disputes. The Ukrainian President insists there should be no restrictions on the range of weapons for Ukraine while Russia uses all kinds of its own weapons, including drones and ballistic missiles from North Korea.
Despite ongoing air strikes targeting critical infrastructure and causing casualties, U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby stated on Monday that there had been “no changes” to U.S. policy regarding the weapons restrictions.
Why It Matters: The current conflict between Ukraine and Russia has been escalating for some time. Ukrainian forces have been advancing into Russian territory, occupying multiple border villages in the Kursk region. This move, the largest of its kind since the conflict began, reportedly took Moscow by surprise.
Ukraine has been pushing deeper into the Kursk region, capturing additional Russian villages. However, Russian forces have been steadily advancing into eastern Ukraine.
Earlier this year, President Joe Biden lifted restrictions that prevented Ukraine’s military from sending U.S.-provided munitions into Russia, in an attempt to prevent further escalation of the war. This move came after Russia had been firing on Ukrainian targets from within its border, treating its area as a “safe zone.”
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Photo courtesy: The Presidential Office of Ukraine
This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Pooja Rajkumari
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