Zelenskyy Pressures US for Deeper Strikes in Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has ramped up his calls for the United States to allow Kyiv to conduct strikes deeper into Russian territory, following discussions with senior U.S. officials in Washington. Despite receiving over $50 billion in military aid from the U.S. since 2022, Ukraine's military actions have been limited to defensive operations within its own borders. Zelenskiy argued that removing Russian aerial threats is essential to compel Russia towards peace and has appealed for both permissions and long-range capabilities from Western allies. Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov emphasized the importance of targeting Russian airfields that threaten Ukrainian cities during a CNN interview. Zelenskiy plans to reiterate these requests in person when he meets President Joe Biden next month, as well as during the United Nations General Assembly meetings. The push for expanded military capabilities comes amidst ongoing discussions about Ukraine’s energy system recovery and support strategies.