Zelensky hails US weapons green light as a “step forward” | national news

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday welcomed the US decision to partially lift restrictions on the use of US-donated weapons to strike Russia, calling it a “step forward”.

Washington on Thursday gave Ukraine the green light to use U.S. weapons to defend its Kharkiv region on the border with Russia, overcoming earlier fears that authorizing such strikes could embroil NATO in direct conflict with Russia.

“This is a step forward towards the goal (…) of enabling the defense of our fellow citizens who live in border villages,” Zelensky said during a visit to Stockholm.

Germany said Friday it had also authorized Ukraine to fire German-supplied weapons at targets in Russia.

kyiv has “the right under international law to defend itself” against attacks from inside Russia near the border with Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's spokesman Steffen said Hebestreit.

“For this purpose, he can also use the weapons provided for this purpose (…), including those that we provide,” he added.

The Kremlin on Thursday accused the West of “entering a new phase of escalation of tensions.”

And on Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said American-made weapons “were already being used to attempt strikes on Russian territory.”

“This is quite eloquent proof of the extent of American involvement in this conflict,” he said.

But NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, speaking to reporters at a meeting of the alliance's foreign ministers in Prague, responded: “This is part of the efforts of President (Vladimir) Putin and from Moscow to prevent NATO allies from supporting Ukraine in its defense.

“Ukraine has the right to defend itself and we have the right to help Ukraine,” he said.

However, divisions on this issue have emerged among NATO member states.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said that “for Italy it is impossible to use our weapons outside Ukraine.”

“We are not fighting against Russia. We are defending Ukraine and that is not the same thing,” he said.

– 'Stop the madness' –

Washington's change in attitude has been attributed by U.S. officials to Russia's daily shelling of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city.

In the latest Russian strikes on the city overnight, six people were killed and 25 wounded, including two children, officials said.

Yulia, a local resident who fled to a basement overnight for shelter, said there were several explosions overnight.

“We are all shocked by what we experienced. Honestly, I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy,” she told AFP.

“They're monsters, they're not people. People can't do such a thing in the 21st century,” she said.

Regional governor Oleg Synegubov said the rubble was still being cleared.

“There may be more people under that responsibility,” he said.

Zelensky urged Western allies for more support.

“Only together can we stop Moscow's madness,” he said at a news conference in Stockholm.

While expressing gratitude to Western allies for their arms deliveries, he said there were often delays in deliveries.

“It can take six months or more from the time the package is approved to the time it is used…Our biggest enemy is slow supply,” he said.

– 'Progress is underway' –

Ukraine has stepped up its strikes against Russian targets in recent months, claiming drone attacks against military and energy infrastructure targets deep within the country.

The Russian army announced on Friday that it had shot down 29 Ukrainian drones overnight which were targeting the port city of Novorossiysk and an oil depot in Temryuk.

The increasing intensity of the strikes came as Russian troops have gradually advanced into Ukraine this year after repelling a Ukrainian counter-offensive last year.

Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov said Moscow's forces had seized 880 square kilometers (340 square miles) of territory so far in 2024.

“Advancement is underway in all tactical directions,” he said at a meeting of the Russia-led CSTO security alliance in Almaty, according to Russian news agencies.

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