The Secretary of State of The US Anthony Blinken and the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky during their meeting in Kiev yesterday did not make any decisions about the use of US weapons to strike deep in Russia, the American TV channel “ABC News” reported, citing an adviser to the Ukrainian president.
Zelensky and Blinken discussed lifting the ban on strikes deep into Russian territory and weapons supplies, according to a Zelensky adviser familiar with the meeting. Zelensky gave Blinken a detailed plan for how Ukraine could use the long-range missiles to strike Russia and gave him a list of possible targets, the adviser said. However, the official stressed that no decisions have been made on this matter.
Kiev has long demanded permission from the US to strike military targets within Russian borders.
Ihor Cherniev – deputy of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada and chairman of his country's delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly – told ABC News that the Ukrainians are hoping for permission from the US to use the military's ATAKMS tactical missile system to strike Russia. The longest-range variant of the weapon can engage targets at a distance of about 460 km.
„This will inspire the Ukrainians and our army”, Cherniev said. Russian airfields and military depots will be at the top of Kiev's target list if US restrictions on the use of ATAKMS are indeed lifted, he added.