President Zelensky Wants US To Allow Ukraine To Attack Targets Inside Russia With Long-range Weapons

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, flanked by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and British PM Keir Starmen while attending a NATO summit in Washington DC (Twitter/@ZelenskyyUa)

JAKARTA - President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday asked the United States to approve the use of long-range weapons to strike targets inside Russia, as Moscow conducts daily attacks from launch points that are currently beyond the reach of Kyiv.

Speaking at the end of the summit of the NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) this week in Washington DC, President Zelensky praised the alliance for its promise to provide military support to Ukraine while fighting Russia, but said restrictions on the battlefield should be lifted if the country wants to succeed.

"If we want to win, if we want to win, if we want to save our country and defend it, we need to lift all limits," said President Zelensky with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's Presidential Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak noted in a public forum that Russia has no limits on its use of weapons. He said it would be a "real game changer" if Ukrainian allies could lift all limits on the use of weapons they supply to Ukraine.

However, President Joe Biden appears unaffected by the call, which states the ability of long-range attacks on Russia could lead to a sharp escalation of the conflict.

"If (President Zelensky) has the capacity to attack Moscow, attack the Kremlin, does that make sense? No," President Biden said.

"The question is, what is the best use of its weapons?" he continued.

The summit, marking NATO's 75th anniversary, saw member states issue a declaration in support of Ukraine, pledging additional aid and pledging to support an "irreversible path" towards NATO membership.

US and European officials also announced the Ukrainian military in a few weeks will begin flying American-made F-16 fighter jets that have been donated by the Danish and Dutch governments.

"At this summit, we are changing course and laying the foundation for Ukraine to win," Stoltenberg said at the closing press conference.

"Sekutu has agreed to launch NATO security and training assistance for Ukraine with command in the eastern part of the alliance and around 700 personnel," he said.

Stoltenberg himself said Ukraine should be able to strike directly inside Russia.

"Since Russia opened a new front, the only way to strike military targets, military launchers, or airfields that attack Ukraine is to attack military targets in Russian territory," he said.

NATO members have set different limits on how Ukraine can use the weapons they are throwing.

Several parties have confirmed Kyiv could use it to strike targets deep within Russia. Meanwhile, Uncle Sam's country only allows its weapons to be used within Russia's borders against locations supporting military operations in Ukraine.