By Athena Papakosta

Once again, the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, yesterday, Wednesday, called on his Western allies to give the green light to the use of long-range weapons so that the Ukrainian armed forces can launch strikes deeper into Russian territory. As, characteristically, he emphasized in this way the war will end sooner “for Ukraine and the world”.

Tomorrow, Friday, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Rustem Umerovwill meet with his American counterpart, Lloyd Austin, while Andrii Yermak, head of the office of the president of Ukraine, will also have contacts with American officials.

According to US media, during the meetings, Ukrainian officials will try to convince the US government to allow the Ukrainian armed forces to use long-range weapons. To achieve their goal, according to an American edition of Politico, they will present a list of targets in Russia, whom they believe Kiev’s military could hit if Washington lifts its restrictions.

Ahead of November’s US election, which could put Donald Trump back in the Oval Office, Kiev is scrambling to pressure Washington ahead of schedule.

A Ukrainian official speaking to the American network CNN explained that “we consider that strikes deeper into Russian territory with American weapons do not pose a greater challenge than strikes with American weapons on Russian territory near the border with Ukraine.”

But the United States disagrees and refuses to give permission for the Ukrainians to use the weapons they have supplied them with to attack deeper into Russia.

“You’ve heard us say that the Ukrainians can use American military aid to defend themselves from cross-border attacks. But with regard to strikes with long-range weapons deeper into Russia, our policy has not changed,” Pentagon spokesman Par Ryder said.

At the same time, during yesterday’s NATO-Ukraine Council meeting, Alliance members reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen Ukraine’s defenses. However, according to Agence France-Presse, there were also NATO members who stood in favor of lifting restrictions on the use of Western weapons.

Kiev’s weapon, at the moment, remains the offensive of the Ukrainian armed forces in the Russian Kursk region. Ukraine’s president, a few 24 hours ago, described it as the first step in a multi-stage and phased effort described as “a powerful coercion package on Russia to end its war through diplomatic means.” But Russian President Vladimir Putin has yet to say his final word on Kursk, with analysts expecting a counter-attack by the Russian armed forces.