KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy intensified his appeal to the United States for authorization to target military sites deep within Russian territory, following meetings with senior U.S. officials in Washington on Saturday.
Despite over $50 billion in military aid from Washington since 2022, the U.S. has restricted Ukrainian use of its weapons to defensive operations on Ukrainian soil and cross-border activities.
Zelenskiy reported that guided aerial bombs killed six and injured 97 in Kharkiv on Friday, with further attacks occurring on Saturday. He argued that such incidents could be prevented by targeting Russian military airfields, bases, and logistical operations.
In his nightly video address, Zelenskiy emphasized the urgency of addressing these issues, stating, “We talk about this every day with our partners. We persuade. We present arguments.” He stressed that eliminating the threat of Russian aerial bombs would be a significant step towards compelling Russia to seek peace.
He appealed to the U.S., Britain, France, and Germany, saying, “We need the capabilities to truly and fully protect Ukraine and Ukrainians. We need both the permissions for long-range capabilities and your long-range shells and missiles.”
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who met with U.S. officials and experts in Washington, revealed that Kyiv had demonstrated that Russian airfields used to attack Ukrainian cities were within range for deep strikes. He expressed hope that their requests had been heard.
Zelenskiy is anticipated to make a similar appeal in person next month when he presents a victory plan to President Joe Biden and attends the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, who led Kyiv’s delegation, discussed efforts to restore Ukraine’s energy system, highlighting an $800 million financing package announced in June as a significant contribution. Russian air strikes have damaged more than half of Ukraine’s power infrastructure.
President Zelenskiy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, along with Umerov, briefed U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on the battlefield situation. Yermak underscored the importance of receiving weapons from existing defense packages as soon as possible, given the recent escalation with over 400 Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine.
