Zelensky Again Calls for Western Military Aid and Permission to Strike Deep into Russian Territory

The President of Ukraine once again urged the United States and other Western allies to swiftly implement military agreements with his country and assist Kyiv in countering the Russian military invasion. Meanwhile, continuing Russian attacks on residential areas in Ukraine, on Monday morning, September 26, the Ukrainian army reported intercepting nearly 20 more Russian drones heading towards Kyiv, the capital. Volodymyr Zelensky, in a video message released on Saturday, September 24, specifically referred to discussions among Western countries regarding the level of military aid to Ukraine and current restrictions on their use. The Ukrainian President emphasized the 'vital' nature of this issue, stating that any delay in sending military aid packages has negative consequences for the situation on the front lines of the battle. While an unprecedented flow of international military aid for Ukraine continues, some members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have called for lifting current restrictions on how these weapons can be used. Kyiv has repeatedly argued that in order to defend itself against Moscow, it must be able to use long-range weapons to strike targets within Russian territory, a stance that has recently garnered some support among NATO leaders. Last week, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Joe Biden at the White House to discuss this matter. It is reported that Britain is gradually moving towards agreeing to Ukraine's use of long-range missiles known as 'Storm Shadow' against targets in Russia. Jake Sullivan, the White House National Security Advisor, also emphasized on Saturday that Joe Biden is determined to use the remaining four months of his presidency to put Ukraine in a better position. On the other hand, last Saturday, Dmitry Medvedev, the former President of the Russian Federation, claimed that if Ukraine attacks Russian territory with Western weapons, Kyiv could become a 'gray area' on the map due to a nuclear strike. The ongoing threats from Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev, the current and former Presidents of the Russian Federation, seem primarily aimed at deterring Ukraine's Western partners from escalating military support for the country. In response, David Lammy, the British Foreign Secretary, dismissed such threats as 'hollow bluffs,' stating that Putin had previously threatened to use nuclear weapons if Western tanks and arms were sent to Ukraine. The senior British diplomat said, 'We have sent these aid packages, but Putin just repeats his threats every few months.' The foreign ministers of Britain, Ukraine, and the United States emphasized that the West cannot change its plans based on the threats of an 'imperialist fascist.' The British Foreign Secretary also mentioned that consultations among the leaders of these countries, the United States, and Ukraine will continue in the coming weeks during the United Nations General Assembly. Meanwhile, Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine continue. In one of the latest attacks, on Saturday night, the port city of Odessa and several other Ukrainian cities were targeted with drones, two Iskander ballistic missiles, and one air-to-ground guided missile. The Ukrainian Air Force claimed to have intercepted and shot down the guided missile and 10 out of 14 drones sent towards Odessa. On Sunday, September 25, Volodymyr Zelensky reported on Telegram that a Russian guided bomb hit a residential complex in Kharkiv, injuring 30 people. According to the Ukrainian President, Moscow has targeted various locations in his country over the past week with approximately 300 drones, 800 guided bombs, and 30 missiles. On Monday morning, September 26, the Ukrainian army reported intercepting nearly 20 more Russian drones heading towards Kyiv, marking the eighth Russian airstrike on the Ukrainian capital in the past two weeks. Serhiy Popko, the military official in Kyiv, emphasized that the true scale of the attack on Monday morning would be determined later after complete assessments, stating that no reports of casualties or injuries among civilians had been received. Russia claims that its attacks only target Ukraine's military, energy, and transportation infrastructure. Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed on Sunday that its forces intercepted and destroyed 29 Ukrainian drones heading towards various parts of Russia during the night. Over the past month, Russian army forces have been slowly advancing towards the strategic city of Pokrovsk in the Donbas region, a city that is crucial for the military logistics of the Ukrainian army, and its fall could make things even more difficult for Kyiv. At the same time, reports have emerged of Russia's readiness to carry out a large-scale counteroffensive in the Kursk region within its own territory, aimed at reclaiming this border area.