Ukrainian Foreign Minister calls on NATO to allow strikes deep into Russia
Photo: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha spoke with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to discuss increasing military assistance to Ukraine and boosting defense production, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry reports.
The Minister reaffirms Ukraine's course towards NATO membership.
In addition, Sybiha states the need for Ukraine to have unimpeded access to use its weapons against military targets in Russia. He stresses that this issue is vital for Ukraine.
"I once again underscored the vital need for Ukraine to be able to use available weapons against legitimate military targets in Russia without restrictions," he says.
The Minister also thanked NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg for his support in this and other matters.
Permission for Ukrainian Armed Forces to strike deep into Russia
The US, UK, and France provide Ukraine with long-range weapons on the condition that they are not used to strike at Russian territory. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly called for these restrictions to be lifted to allow for attacks on Russian airfields, but the allies have so far refused, making it difficult to destroy Russian aircraft that are launching guided bombs into Ukraine.
White House spokesperson John Kirby said that Washington continues to hold private talks with Kyiv on the issue. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin added that Russia had moved its tactical aircraft beyond the range of ATACMS missiles.
On September 10, it became known that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy would visit Ukraine. On the same day, Blinken said that on September 13, US President Joe Biden would meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss, among other things, the possibility of allowing the Ukrainian Armed Forces to conduct strikes on Russian territory.
According to media reports, during his visit to Kyiv, Blinken may announce that Ukraine will be allowed to use long-range weapons to strike Russia. Blinken also said that President Biden does not rule out the possibility that Ukraine could launch strikes on Russian territory.
