Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has intensified calls for the United States to authorize deeper strikes into Russian territory following devastating Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities. Zelenskiy’s appeal comes after a Ukrainian delegation met with senior U.S. officials in Washington, seeking support for targeting Russian military infrastructure beyond Ukraine’s borders.
Since 2022, the U.S. has provided over $50 billion in military aid to Ukraine but has largely restricted Kyiv’s use of this weaponry to operations on Ukrainian soil and defensive strikes across the border. Zelenskiy argues that this limitation is hindering Ukraine’s ability to neutralize ongoing Russian bombardments, such as the guided aerial bomb attacks that killed six people and injured 97 in Kharkiv on Friday, with further strikes continuing on Saturday.
In his nightly address, Zelenskiy emphasized the need to strike Russian military airfields and bases to prevent future attacks, stating that doing so would pressure Russia toward seeking an end to the conflict and a fair peace settlement. He reiterated the importance of long-range capabilities and the supply of long-range missiles from Ukraine’s Western allies, including the U.S., Britain, France, and Germany.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who traveled to Washington alongside a delegation, reinforced Zelenskiy’s argument, stressing that Kyiv has demonstrated how deep strikes on Russian airfields could mitigate the ongoing aerial assaults on Ukrainian cities. Umerov expressed optimism that the U.S. officials had been receptive to Kyiv’s requests.
The delegation’s visit comes as Ukraine faces a surge in Russian missile and drone strikes, with over 400 attacks reported in the past week alone. Zelenskiy plans to further press the issue when he meets U.S. President Joe Biden next month to present a victory strategy, ahead of the United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York.
Ukraine’s push for expanded military support also includes efforts to rebuild its energy infrastructure, which has been severely impacted by Russian air strikes. Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko highlighted ongoing discussions with the U.S. about restoring Ukraine’s power systems, including an $800 million energy sector financing package announced earlier this year.
In a meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Ukraine’s presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak stressed the urgency of delivering weapons from existing defense packages to counter the intensified Russian offensives. As Ukraine continues to navigate a war that shows no sign of abating, Zelenskiy is determined to secure the tools necessary to protect his country and push Russia toward a resolution.
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