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Zelensky Pushes Long-Range Weapons as Key to Ukraine’s ‘Victory Plan’ Ahead of US Visit

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As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky prepares for his upcoming visit to the United States, he emphasized the critical role that long-range weapons will play in Ukraine’s strategy for defeating Russia. Zelensky revealed that his “victory plan,” which he intends to present to U.S. officials, includes the ability to strike targets inside Russia. However, despite progress, Ukraine has yet to receive permission from allies like the U.S. and the U.K. to use such weapons within Russian territory.

Zelensky acknowledged that Ukraine does have some long-range weapons but not in sufficient quantities. He attributed the allies’ reluctance to authorize strikes inside Russia to concerns over potential escalation. He stated that while President Joe Biden is being advised on escalation risks, not all of his advisors share this fear, which Zelensky views as a positive development.

Next week, Zelensky hopes to further convince Biden and other U.S. officials of the importance of loosening restrictions on long-range missile use. He mentioned that previous difficult discussions with Biden had led to shifts in policy and remained hopeful that his arguments would be well-received during this visit. In addition to meeting President Biden, Zelensky plans to consult with Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, who has been vague about his stance on the war in Ukraine.

During his U.S. visit, Zelensky is expected to address the United Nations General Assembly in New York and make a stop at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Pennsylvania. The facility produces the 155mm artillery shells vital to Ukraine’s defense efforts against Russia.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces continue their push to degrade Russian military infrastructure. Ukrainian officials reported on Saturday that two major ammunition depots were struck in Russia’s Krasnodar and Tver regions. These strikes, carried out in coordination with Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), targeted key logistics facilities, including a large base storing Iskander and Tochka-U tactical missile systems. The attacks mark a continued effort by Ukraine to weaken Russia’s artillery capabilities. However, Russian authorities have not confirmed the strikes.

Zelensky’s visit and his focus on securing more military aid come as Ukraine intensifies its counteroffensive, targeting Russian supply lines and ammunition storage facilities, aiming to shift the balance in the war.

Putin’s Response to Ukraine Missiles Could Include Nuclear Test, Experts Say

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As tensions between Russia and the West escalate over Ukraine, experts warn that Russian President Vladimir Putin may consider a nuclear test to demonstrate his seriousness if Western nations permit Ukraine to use long-range missiles against Russian targets. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Joe Biden are currently discussing the possibility of supplying Kyiv with U.S. ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles, which could change the course of the conflict.

Putin issued a clear warning on Thursday, stating that the West would be directly involved in fighting Russia if such missiles were deployed. While he has promised an “appropriate” response, the specifics remain unclear. Ulrich Kuehn, an arms expert, suggested that Putin might consider testing a nuclear weapon as a dramatic escalation to convey intent and intimidate Western powers. Russia has not conducted a nuclear test since 1990, and a test now could signal a dangerous shift in the conflict’s trajectory.

Other experts, such as Gerhard Mangott from the University of Innsbruck, agree that a nuclear test, though unlikely, remains within the realm of possibility. They also highlight the risks of Russia escalating “hybrid” actions like sabotage in Europe or interference in Western elections. Russia’s UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, warned that if NATO allowed Ukraine to use long-range weapons, it would be considered a direct conflict with a nuclear power.

Former Kremlin adviser Sergei Markov predicted that Moscow could also respond by targeting British military assets or engaging in hybrid warfare, such as striking British drones and warplanes near Russia. The potential for significant escalation, including attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure or further hybrid actions, remains a key concern, as analysts debate where Putin’s red lines truly lie.

 

Putin Warns of Direct Conflict with the West if Kyiv Is Allowed to Use Long-Range Missiles

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Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Thursday that if the West permits Ukraine to use long-range Western-made missiles to strike Russian territory, it would amount to a direct military confrontation between NATO countries and Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly requested long-range weapons, such as U.S. ATACMS and British Storm Shadows, to target deep within Russia and limit Moscow’s ability to launch further attacks.

In one of his most direct warnings yet, Putin emphasized that such a move would drag NATO directly into the conflict, as Kyiv lacks the technical expertise to program and target these missiles without Western military support. “This is not just about allowing the Ukrainian regime to strike Russia,” Putin told Russian state television, “but about NATO’s direct involvement in a military conflict.”

He also hinted that Russia would respond with “appropriate decisions” should NATO countries get involved, though he stopped short of specifying what those measures might be. Previously, Putin has suggested arming the West’s enemies with Russian weapons or deploying conventional missiles close to U.S. and European targets.

The warning comes as Russia continues to revise its nuclear doctrine, with calls from foreign policy hawks to expand the conditions under which Moscow might use nuclear weapons against nations supporting NATO’s involvement in Ukraine. Russia is also conducting naval exercises with China and considering limiting key exports.

The ongoing war, which Russia launched in 2022, is seen by Putin as part of a larger struggle against Western influence, which he claims has undermined Russian sovereignty since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Meanwhile, the West and Ukraine frame the invasion as a land grab, with Ukraine vowing to reclaim the 18% of its territory currently under Russian control.