Zelensky pushes US to allow long-range weapons use in Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Washington to permit his forces to use US weapons to strike deep inside Russian territory as he looks to increase pressure on Moscow to end the 31-month war.

Zelenskyy made the plea on Friday in a meeting with western defence ministers in Germany, underscoring his determination to shift policies in many countries that have barred Kyiv from using their weapons to strike Russia. His visit to Ramstein marked his first time joining the meeting at the air base in person.

“We need to have this long-range capability not only on the occupied territory of Ukraine, but also on the Russian territory, so that Russia is motivated to seek peace,” he said at the start of the meeting. The Ukraine contact group is a regular forum to co-ordinate lethal aid to Ukraine.