1,000 Days Of Russian Invasion, Ukrainian President Asks Germany To Supply Long-range Missiles

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy/screenshot via Instagram @zelenskyy_official

JAKARTA - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it was time for Germany to support Ukraine's long-range attack capability against Russia.

The United States government first approved the use of ATACMS missiles by Ukraine in attacks on Russian territory.

This prompted Russian President Vladimir Putin to lower his military threshold to carry out nuclear attacks.

"I think after a statement about nuclear weapons, it is also time for Germany to support the relevant decisions," Zelenskyy said.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who held an hour-long phone conversation with Putin last week, hesitant to give Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine, sparking frustration in Kyiv.

Zelenskiy's remarks came as Ukraine's official sources confirmed Kyiv's military used US-backed missiles to attack an arsenal in Russia's Bryansk region on Tuesday.

Previously reported, Germany would send 4,000 AI-controlled attack drones to Ukraine. This decision was taken days after Kyiv criticized German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for holding talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said the military aid package marked a major step for Ukraine as they were controlled by AI and could disable enemy electronic defenses.

"The drone, produced by German companyANchers, can reach a target of up to 30-40 kilometers in the interior, especially command posts and logistics centers," Pistorius said as quoted by CNN, Monday, November 18.

The decision came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rebuked Scholz for holding telephone talks with Putin over ending the war in Ukraine, as well as ending Europe's joint efforts to isolate the Russian leader.

Although the drone is referred to as the 'Mini-Taurus', Germany still refuses to send the Taurus cruise missile to Ukraine.