Zelensky says Ukraine will soon be allowed to strike Russia with Western weapons

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it was only a matter of time before Western allies allowed his forces to strike targets in Russia with the weapons they supplied.

Zelensky was speaking at the Nordic Summit in Stockholm and complained to delegates that Russia had a tactical advantage, saying “the way they attack and we can't… it's not normal”, referring to the Russian strikes on Ukrainian territory.

“I think that the use of any weapon, of a Western type, on the territory of Russia is a matter of time. I think so. Otherwise, it is not a question of a just peace, because they can only stay in their territory and across the border attack us and kill, as is the case now,” he said.

His comments come a day after two unnamed U.S. officials indicated that the Biden administration was willing to let Ukraine use U.S. weapons to strike inside Russia, but only to defend the northern Kharkiv region.

The officials stressed, however, that the White House policy that U.S. weapons should not be used against Russia remains unchanged.

Speaking in Prague, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said “the stakes could not be higher” for Ukraine.

“We know that if Russian aggression is allowed to continue with impunity in Ukraine, it will not stop in Ukraine. And other potential aggressors in other parts of the world will take note and consider continue their own attacks,” he said.

This modest change in position in Washington was echoed on Friday by Germany, Ukraine's second largest arms supplier after the United States.

Speaking to the press in Berlin, deputy government spokesman Wolfgang Büchner said Ukraine could now use weapons supplied by Germany to strike Russia, but only to defend Kharkiv.

“We have agreed with Ukraine that the weapons we supply will be used in accordance with international law. Together with our closest allies and in close dialogue with the Ukrainian government, we continually adapt our support to the evolution of the war,” did he declare. .

“In recent weeks, Russia has prepared, coordinated and carried out attacks from positions in the Kharkiv region, in particular from the directly adjacent Russian border region. Together, we are convinced that Ukraine has the right, under of international law, to defend itself against these attacks.

Calls for Ukraine to be allowed to strike Russian territory were also heard at the informal NATO summit in Prague.

There, ministers discussed the future and security of the military alliance and how it could contribute to Ukraine's defense until it receives credible security guarantees.

“NATO must also take a longer-term approach to Ukraine's security. Ukraine cannot fight Russia with its hands tied behind its back. Ukraine must be able to fight Russia with its hands tied behind its back. barbaric invasion of Russia, even on Russian territory I am convinced that only a long-term guarantee against Russian imperialism is NATO membership,” said Czech Foreign Minister Jan. Lipavsky.

Meanwhile, earlier Friday, Ukraine and Russia carried out an exchange of prisoners of war, the first in four months.

150 military personnel – 75 from each side – were exchanged in the Ukrainian border region of Sumy in a deal brokered by the United Arab Emirates.

Earlier in the day, at the same location, the two sides also exchanged the bodies of fallen soldiers, with Ukraine returning 212 bodies and Russia 45.

The belligerents only meet when they exchange their dead and prisoners of war, which requires considerable preparation and diplomacy.

Vitalii Matviienko, an official at Ukraine's POW offices, said there were days when exchanges did not take place because Russia canceled at the last minute.

“It is quite difficult to negotiate and talk with the Russian side,” he said.

Both sides have blamed each other for what they see as a slowdown in trade.