Volodymyr Zelenskyy urges Ukraine allies to allow long-range weapons use in Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged his Western allies to allow Ukraine to strike targets deep inside Russia, arguing that only by extending the battlefield beyond Ukraine’s borders can pressure be put on Moscow to seek peace.

Speaking at the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) meeting at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, Zelenskyy made his case for long-range missile use, stating, “We need to have this long-range capability, not only on the divided territory of Ukraine, but also on the Russian territory, so that Russia is motivated to seek peace.”

The Ukrainian leader’s demand comes amid intensifying Russian advances in the Donbas region and follows a devastating Russian strike on Poltava, where 55 people were killed. With Moscow recently reaffirming its focus on capturing eastern Ukraine, Zelenskyy argued that deeper strikes inside Russian territory would force Russian soldiers and civilians alike to consider whether they want “peace or Putin.”

Zelenskyy’s appeal for more military support comes as the U.S. pledged an additional $250 million in aid to Ukraine. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, addressing the UDCG, reiterated America’s commitment, stating that the aid “will surge in more capabilities to meet Ukraine’s evolving requirements. And we’ll deliver them at the speed of war.”

This high-stakes meeting marked the first time Zelenskyy had attended the Ramstein group discussions in person, reflecting the urgency of his message as the war reaches a critical juncture. Zelenskyy thanked allies for their support, including the delivery of F-16 fighter jets and long-range Storm Shadow missiles, but pressed for more robust systems to force Russia into negotiations.

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However, it remains unclear whether Zelenskyy’s push for long-range attacks on Russian soil will gain traction. The U.S. has made clear that while it will continue to provide significant military support, “not necessarily everything that Zelenskyy wants,” as Al Jazeera’s Dominic Kane reported. Germany, in particular, has set “red lines” against the use of its weapons on Russian territory, raising questions about how far Western powers are willing to escalate the conflict.

Meanwhile, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg weighed in from Oslo, calling on China to stop supporting Russia’s “illegal war” against Ukraine, labeling China a “decisive enabler” of Moscow’s actions. China, as expected, dismissed the criticism as biased and “malicious.”

Zelenskyy’s call for long-range strikes presents a pivotal moment in the conflict. Whether his Western allies are willing to embrace this escalation remains to be seen, but the Ukrainian leader’s message was clear: the road to peace may run through Russian soil.