Zelenskyy intensifies appeals: Permission to use Western weapons against Russian targets requested

President Volodymyr Zelensky is intensifying his efforts to persuade Western allies to lift all restrictions on the use of Western weapons against Russian targets. This push comes in the wake of the most massive missile and drone attacks on Ukraine since February 2022, carried out by Moscow. Zelensky has made it Ukraine's top diplomatic priority to convince Washington and other Western capitals to permit Ukrainian strikes on air bases and other military facilities deep within Russia. These bases are used to launch attacks on Ukraine. "The US, the UK, France, and other partners have the power to help us stop the terror," emphasized the Ukrainian head of state. While the UK and France support the use of Western weapons for attacks in Russia, the USA and Germany reject this initiative. Ukraine has received missiles with a range of up to 300 km, but with the stipulation that they may not be fired at Russian targets. The delivered weapons include the US-made ATACMS missiles as well as the British-French Storm Shadow cruise missiles, which have been provided by Paris and London since last year. However, Ukraine is seeking the German Taurus missile, which has a range of 500 km and a more powerful warhead capacity, but it has not yet been supplied by the Federal Republic. Zelensky is also requesting permission to use the newly delivered F-16 fighter jets to bomb Russian targets. These jets are of US origin but have been supplied by Denmark and the Netherlands and soon by Norway and Belgium. He argues that attacks on air bases, logistical hubs, command centers, and troop concentrations are necessary to defend Ukraine from Russian missiles and guided aerial bombs. Although the Ukrainian armed forces have achieved some successes with homemade drones, Zelensky emphasizes that Western missiles are faster, more precise, harder to intercept, and can carry larger payloads. However, the USA and Germany warn of a potential escalation if Western weapons are used on Russian soil. An anonymous US government official denied the existence of a veto regarding the deployment approval but highlighted the need for Western consensus and coordinated action. The UK and France, however, may again take the lead, as they did with the shipment of tanks and cruise missiles, while Washington hesitated. Observers do not rule out that US policy on this issue could again prove to be flexible, as it has been in the past. Overall, the situation remains tense but flexible. The future of Ukraine's demand depends on further developments and diplomatic negotiations.