Zelenskyy Calls on Ukraine Allies to Permit Use of Long-Range Weapons in Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urges international allies to allow the use of long-range weapons within Russian territory, seeking to strengthen Ukraine’s defense amid ongoing conflict.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called upon Western allies to permit Ukraine in utilizing long-range missiles for striking Russian targets, thereby intensifying pressure on Moscow to terminate the ongoing conflict.

During a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) at Germany’s Ramstein Air Base, Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of possessing long-range capability not only on Ukrainian soil but also within Russian territory to encourage Russia towards pursuing peace.

Our aim should be to make Russian cities and soldiers contemplate on whether their priorities lie with peace or allegiance towards Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin declared during the UDCG meeting, also referred to as the Ramstein group, that an extra $250m in military assistance would be provided by the United States to Ukraine.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, representatives from approximately 50 countries that provide weapons to Ukraine have consistently convened.

According to Austin, they will enhance their capabilities even further in order to keep up with the changing needs of Ukraine. They promise swift delivery comparable to that of war.

Zelensky’s attendance at the meeting holds great importance, as it marks his first appearance since its inception. This momentous event comes amidst a critical juncture of the war in light of Russia’s fatal attack on Poltava where 55 fatalities and 300 injuries occurred.

The Donbas region is presently being occupied by Moscow’s troops as Putin declared on Thursday that his main aim in the conflict was to take control of this eastern area.

Last month, Ukraine’s unexpected incursion into Russia’s Kursk region caught the Russian military by surprise. However, on Thursday Putin dismissed this attack and emphasized that it was unsuccessful in impeding Moscow’s progress.

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According to Al Jazeera’s Dominic Kane, reporting from Berlin, Zelenskyy conveyed that Ukraine must launch a substantial attack on Russia in order for Putin to grasp the fact that “he won’t accomplish his objectives”.

The president of Ukraine expressed gratitude to the nations that provided F-16 fighter jets and long-range missile systems, including Storm Shadow. However, additional support was necessary for bringing Putin and the Russian government into negotiations according to his statement.

It remained unclear if Zelenskyy would be able to accomplish his objectives.

According to Kane from Al Jazeera, Austin had expressed that while the US would provide as much support as possible, it may not fulfill all of Zelenskyy’s desires.

Furthermore, the German government had drawn clear boundaries on permitting their armaments to be employed extensively within Russian borders.

The Ramstein group has offered roughly $106 billion in security aid to Ukraine, beginning from 2022. The US, which is the primary supporter of Kyiv, contributed over $56 billion towards this amount.

In Oslo, the NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg referred to China as a significant facilitator of Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine. He appealed for China to discontinue its assistance in this unauthorized conflict led by Russia.

NATO’s past comments have been labeled by China as “malicious” and prejudiced.