Zelenskyy urges US, UK to take 'strong decisions', support use of long-range missiles in Russia

Hours after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Minister David Lammy arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged both the US and UK to take “strong decisions” as he renewed his call for permission to use long-range missiles deep inside Russia.

According to The Guardian report, citing the PA news agency, Zelenskyy, ahead of his talks with Blinken and Lammy, said that while he was optimistic about their decision to give Ukraine permission to use long-distance missiles, it eventually depends on their optimism and “strong decisions” on the issue.

“I will have a little bit later a talk with him (Blinken) and minister of foreign affairs for the UK. I don’t know all the details of our conversation. I will be ready to be open and honest after these consultations,” Zelenskyy was quoted as saying.

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“If I am optimistic about their decision to give us permission to use long distance, it is a pity it doesn’t depend on my optimism. It depends on their optimism. Let’s count on some strong decisions on this,” he added.

“For us it is very important for today. Anyway, I will tell you after the meeting and anyway I am counting on my dialogue with President (Joe) Biden this month,” he further added.

Zelenskyy also said that a “victory plan” he wants to present to US President Joe Biden this month would strengthen Kyiv and have a “psychological” impact that could push Russia to end its war diplomatically.

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Speaking at Kyiv’s annual Crimean Platform event, Zelenskyy said it was important that Ukraine presented the plan to its allies before a second international summit on peace that he wants to hold later this year.

“If partners support it (the plan), it will make it easier for Ukraine to force Russia to end the war,” Reuters quoted him as saying.

“What is this plan for? It is a serious strengthening of Ukraine and, in my opinion, it will have both psychological and political… influence on Russia’s decision to end this war,” added the Ukrainian President.

Meanwhile, Blinken has said he wants to hear directly from Zelenskyy and others what Kyiv’s goals in the war are and what Washington can do to help it achieve them.

Blinken and Lammy are expected to push Ukraine for more information on its strategic aims as they consider whether to give the go-ahead for long-range US ATACMS and British Storm Shadows to hit deep inside Russia, according to Western sources.

There is nervousness in Washington and some European capitals that doing so would provoke Russia towards a direct conflict with the West, while officials also recognise that Ukraine needs more help if it is to swing the war in its favour.

With inputs from agencies