Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continues to urge Biden to lift restrictions on Ukraine using U.S.-supplied weapons to strike targets up to 300 miles inside Russia, with pressure heightened by Britain’s decision this week to lift similar restrictions on long-range Storm Shadow missiles.
The Biden administration has given Ukraine permission to attack across the Russian border near the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, but Zelenskiy has wanted the U.S. to relax a broad ban on attacking military targets deep inside Russian territory that is in place over concerns about provoking Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“IIf you want to win, if you want to win, if you want to save and defend your country, all [limitations]Speaking to reporters in Washington on Thursday alongside outgoing NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, Zelensky noted that he had discussed the request with both President Biden and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
In a post on social media site X,Zelensky said:He met with Starmer “to learn about the authorization to use Storm Shadow missiles against military targets on Russian territory” and to discuss “the practical implementation of this decision.”
Speaking at a press conference, President Zelensky said it would be “madness” to place restrictions on how donated weapons could be used to attack Russia.
“We know from which military base they attacked us. If they attacked us and killed our children in the hospital, then why can’t we answer, can’t we attack this person, this military base? This is a strange question. From where did the guided bombs come from jets and missiles, aimed at us and killed our children,” Zelenskyy said.
On Sunday, Russia launched a series of missile attacks across Ukraine.Children’s HospitalThe explosion in Kiev reportedly killed two adults and injured more than 50 people, including seven children.
Stoltenberg reiterated his support for Ukraine’s right to use weapons provided by NATO allies to attack Russian territory, adding that NATO’s support for Ukraine is in accordance with international law and does not make Ukraine a party to the conflict.
“Some of our allies have no restrictions at all. It varies from one allie to another, but they have relaxed restrictions on the use of weapons handed over to Ukraine, which allows Ukraine to attack Russian territory,” Stoltenberg said.
The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment on Zelenskiy’s request.
