Zelensky welcomed Biden’s authorization to use US weapons against targets in Russia

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky This Friday he celebrated the conditional recognition he received America To use Washington-supplied weapons against targets on Russian territory.

President Joe Biden gave Ukraine the green light to use the weapons against targets bordering the former Soviet republic, a senior US official revealed on Thursday. “For counteroffensive purposes in the Kharkiv Region”It faces a Russian attack.

“About A step forward Towards the goal of protecting our people living in villages located on the border with Russia (…), Zelensky said during the third Ukraine-Northern Europe Summit in Stockholm.

Western powers have shown their growing support for using their weapons under certain conditions in Ukraine, which has faced a Russian invasion for more than two years, against Russian areas near the border.

After the US announcement, This Friday, Germany authorized the use of its equipment against military targets in Russia. Especially in response to Moscow’s offensive since early May in the Kharkiv region in the northeast.

German government spokesman Steffen Hepstreit recalled that Ukraine has the “right” to defend itself with the weapons it has, “including the weapons we provide.”

Biden’s decision a 180 degree turnWashington had previously feared that the recognition would draw NATO into direct conflict with Russia.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said “US-made weapons are already trying to carry out attacks on Russian territory.” “This is a testament to the extent of US involvement in this conflict,” he added.

Head of US Diplomacy, Anthony BlinkenHe announced on Friday that his country would continue “Adapting” its military support to UkraineAlthough it has maintained its stance on banning the use of its weapons within Russian territory.

He also pointed out NATO After an informal meeting between NATO diplomatic chiefs in Prague, it will respond to an increase in Russian hybrid attacks against several allies.

Russia has already criticized NATO for launching “a new cycle of enlargement” on Thursday.

However, the Secretary General of the Atlantic Alliance, Jens StoltenbergDownplaying the escalating threat, he said it was only part of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s effort to “dissuade NATO allies from supporting Ukraine.”

The secretary recalled that other countries have already supported the use of Western weapons to attack Russian soil France and England, However, some continue to resist, like Italy.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan He declared that his country supports “continued aid to Ukraine” but that “NATO does not want to participate in this war”.

Stoltenberg said the allies have been providing “about 40 billion euros ($43.5 billion) a year in military aid to Ukraine” since the start of the invasion.

“We need to maintain at least this level of support every year, As long as necessary”, he promised.

On the other hand, foreign ministers of the G7, a group of seven major economies that brings together major Western powers and Japan, announced on Friday. “Serious concern” about growing cooperation between Russia and North Korea Urges an end to “illegal arms transfers”.

Kharkiv is Ukraine’s second largest city, close to the Russian border. It is an almost daily target of bombings, mostly from Russian territory. In the last hour, six people died there, regional authorities indicated on Friday, after they had previously reported 23 injuries.

From Sweden, Zelensky stressed that Ukraine is “strongly grateful for the support of the Allies”.

But for now, the situation on the frontline is not favorable for the Ukrainian army, which is facing a troop drawdown and ammunition shortages.

Russian Defense Minister Andrey Pelozov has confirmed that his country’s forces have captured 880 km2 of territory in Ukraine so far this year. and 28 locations this May in the Kharkiv region.

Despite its progress, Russia has yet to make significant progress in this area.

Ukrainian shelling killed five people on Friday in Donetsk, a region of eastern Ukraine controlled by Moscow, Russian-backed officials said.

(AFP)