The situation in the Donetsk region is such that further delay by Ukraine's long-range partners is de facto becoming perhaps the most significant support for Russia's offensive potential. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a meeting of heads of foreign diplomatic missions of Ukraine "Military Diplomacy: Resilience, Weapons, Victory," UNN reports.
"If our partners lifted all existing restrictions on the use of weapons in Russia, we would not need to physically enter, in particular, the Kursk region to protect our Ukrainian citizens in the border area and destroy Russia's potential for aggression. But for now, we cannot use all the weapons we have and destroy Russian terrorists where they are," Zelenskyy said.
He reiterated that Russian military bases and Russian military airfields, Russian logistics and other military facilities, whose existence allows Putin to evade the search for peace, are fair targets for the Defense Forces.
"And everyone should understand that this is important in terms of all areas of combat operations and protection against all forms of Russian terrorist activity. We need sufficient range to defend Ukraine from Russian missiles and guided bombs, from the redeployment of Russian troops and the pressure of the occupier on key frontline areas," Zelenskyy said.
The President noted that there are now about two hundred kilometers between this hall and Pokrovske and the Toretsk direction, where the most severe Russian assaults are taking place.
"Here you do not hear the roar of artillery and the approach of enemy drones. But you should feel both here and in the capitals of your work that Ukraine is separated from stopping the advance of the Russian army at the front by only one decision that we expect from our partners. And this is a decision on long-range capability. Now this is a key defense solution that should support our soldiers. And this concerns the work of our diplomats, you and other representatives of Ukraine in America, in the UK, in France, in Germany, and in those countries that are able to resolve the issue of long-range capability themselves or by influencing their partners," Zelenskyy said.
Zelenskyy emphasized that the format of Putin's response to the operation in the Kursk region proves that there is no rational reason to prevent Ukraine from being truly strong, truly long-range.
"And the situation in Donetsk region is such that further delay by our partners with long-range capabilities is de facto becoming perhaps the most significant support for Russia's offensive potential," the President said.