Zelensky Calls for Lifting Restrictions on NATO Weapons to Counter Russia

Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, on Thursday, July 21, called for the lifting of restrictions on the use of weapons supplied to his country by NATO members to counter Russia. According to Reuters, leaders of NATO member countries, during the Washington summit, promised further assistance in a statement supporting Ukraine and committed to supporting the country's 'irreversible path' to NATO membership. Jens Stoltenberg, NATO's Secretary-General, said after a three-day meeting of member state leaders at a press conference: 'We are laying the foundations for Ukraine's victory at this meeting.' He added: 'Today, we send a strong message of unity and determination to Moscow to understand that violence and intimidation will not yield results, and Ukraine can now count on NATO for a long time.' Zelensky, who had previously urged Ukraine's allies to maintain their unified support for Ukraine, stated that new assistance must be provided quickly. According to him, Ukraine's victory will be possible only if all restrictions are lifted. Zelensky referred to the limitations on the use of weapons delivered to Ukraine for fighting Russia. He added: 'If these restrictions are lifted, we will see a real change.' The Ukrainian President emphasized, 'If we want to win, save our country, and defend it, all restrictions must be lifted.' Earlier, Andriy Yermak, the senior assistant to the President of Ukraine, on Thursday called for an end to the restrictions on the use of weapons supplied by allies against targets deep in Russia. According to Reuters, he stated that lifting these restrictions would change the course of the fight against Moscow's aggression. Yermak did not specify any particular country's restrictions in his remarks. Previously, the White House had emphasized Ukraine's prohibition on conducting attacks deep into Russia using weapons sent by the United States following a Russian missile attack on a children's hospital in Kyiv. The Biden administration has allowed Ukraine to use these weapons against targets across the Russian border that support Russia's aggressive operations in Ukraine, but prohibited their use for attacks deep within Russian territory. NATO condemned the assistance from the Islamic Republic, China, and North Korea to Russia in the Ukraine war. Biden emphasized at the end of the NATO summit: 'Putin has failed in Ukraine; NATO's support has been key.' Ukraine called for an end to the arms ban for attacks deep into Russia.