Kiev could push Russia out of southern Ukraine if the US lifts its restrictions on low strikes, says Selenskyj

The United States should allow Ukrainian forces to use American weapons to carry out attacks on military targets in Russia and occupied Crimea, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on July 9 in a speech at the Ronald Reagan Institute in Washington DC

Zelenskyy was speaking on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington, a three-day conference marking the alliance’s 75th anniversary that focused on Russia’s war against Ukraine.

“Imagine how much we can achieve if all restrictions are lifted,” Zelensky said.

U.S. policy currently prevents Ukrainian forces from using ATACMS and other U.S. long-range weapons to attack targets deep inside Russian territory.

As Russia stepped up its offensive against Kharkiv Oblast In May, the United States granted Ukraine a provisional Permission to attack Russian targets near the region’s border with American weapons.

In his speech, Zelensky praised the decision, saying it would enable Ukrainian forces to repel the Russian offensive and better protect cities in Kharkiv Oblast from relentless air strikes.

“Similarly, we can now protect our cities from Russian guided bombs if the American leadership takes a step forward and allows us to destroy Russian military aircraft at their bases,” he said.

The president said such a decision would produce “immediate results.”

Zelensky further said that long-range strikes with US weapons could advance the Ukrainian counteroffensive in Russian-occupied territories.

“And we can significantly limit Russian actions in southern Ukraine and drive out the occupiers from there if the American leadership supports us with the necessary capabilities to strike deep into the Russian military and logistics in our Ukrainian Crimea,” he said.

The speech came a day after Russia launched a deadly missile attack on July 8 that killed more than 200 civilians and targeted a children’s hospital.

John Kirby, spokesman for the US National Security Council, said the US would not change its policy towards Ukrainian attacks inside Russia in light of the attack.

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