Ukraine still awaits US approval for striking deep into Russia – Zelensky
Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine
Ukraine attempted to persuade the United States to permit it to launch attacks deep into Russian territory using American weapons. This holds significant weight as all allies are closely observing the US decision.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated this during an interview with CNN journalist Fareed Zakaria.
"Everyone is looking at the decisions of the United States. Everyone is waiting for such decisions. After that, they make a decision. This is true. And that's why we really wanted to use these weapons and just attack military bases with these planes, not civilian infrastructure," the president explained.
At the same time, he confirmed that Ukraine simply wants to be able to attack bases used for bombing Ukrainian territory.
"These planes, these jet planes, from there they use not only missiles, but they also drop four thousand guided air bombs every month, just in the east of our territory, four thousand bombs. And these bombs and missiles hit the Ukrainian civilian population, schools, 80% of our energy infrastructure was destroyed by these guided bombs," the president emphasized.
At the same time, the head of Ukraine noted that he had already informed partners during meetings that they had waited too long.
"Now Russia has started moving its planes from 100, 150, 300 kilometers to 500. After that, I will tell you that now we need more permits," the president emphasized.
When Zakaria asked if Ukraine currently has permission to conduct deep strikes against Russia, the president replied with a no.
It should be noted that later this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will discuss with US President Joe Biden the lifting of restrictions on the use of long-range missiles.
Russian forces shell Myrnohrad in Donetsk region, killing a child and injuring dozens with guided aerial bombs
For reference:
Ukraine is currently asking its Western partners for permission to use long-range weapons to strike military targets deep within Russian territory.
Generals, diplomats, and civil society leaders have signed an open letter to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, urging them to allow Ukraine to strike deep into Russia with Western-supplied long-range weapons.
A group of Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives has also called on the White House to lift restrictions on Ukraine's use of long-range American weapons, including ATACMS missiles, for strikes deep into Russian territory.
On September 10, President Biden hinted that the US may lift these restrictions.
It is worth adding that on September 14, the President of the United States of America, Joe Biden, held talks with the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Keir Starmer, in the White House. Both leaders confirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. However, they did not agree on long-range strikes against Russia.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also expressed support for Ukraine's use of long-range weapons against military targets in Russia, stating on August 13 that Canada fully backs this approach.
