Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said today that the use of Western weapons to strike against Russian territory is “a matter of time”, reported Reuters, quoted by BTA.
Run out of weapons and men at the front, Kiev has stepped up pressure on its Western allies to lift the ban on strikes on Russian territory so it can better repel the Russian advance.
„I think that the use of any weapon, Western weapon, on the territory of Russia is a matter of time. Otherwise, it's not just about peace," Zelensky told journalists during a visit to Stockholm.
Ukraine has stressed the urgent need to use Western-supplied weapons to strike Russian territory as it defends itself against a Russian advance in northeastern Kharkiv Oblast.
This spring, Kiev found itself at a disadvantage after the 27-month full-scale invasion, as it faced a slowdown in US military aid, increased attacks on its energy infrastructure and Russia's drive to expand its front line.
American President Joe Biden without much fanfare gave Kiev permission to fire at targets in Russia that are being used for the offensive in the Kharkiv region.
Zelensky reported that Ukraine “received a message from the American side early in the morning” today, which means “step forward“ in the protection of the people in the villages on the border with Russia. He did not provide additional details about the talks with the US.
The Ukrainian president specified that he does not yet know the possible restrictions related to the use of the long-awaited F-16 fighter jets, but he drew attention to the question of the fairness of the discussions, saying that Ukraine should be able to retaliate against Russian strikes.
Germany, another key ally of Kiev, has signaled that it is open to using weapons donated to Ukraine to strike military targets supporting the attacks in Kharkiv Oblast.
France has also taken a similar stance, saying that Ukraine should be allowed to strike military sites that Russia uses for attacks on its territory.