Ukraine to push for lifting US weapon use restrictions with target list

"Ukrainian officials are preparing to present a list of long-range targets in Russia to top U.S. national security officials that they think Kyiv’s military can hit if Washington were to lift its restrictions on U.S. weapons," writes Politico. Ukrainian officials are set to make "a final attempt to convince Washington to lift restrictions on the use of weapons from the USA" this week.

According to three sources who spoke with Politico, Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov and Senior Presidential Adviser Andriy Yermak will make "Ukraine is using the list as a last-ditch effort to convince Washington to lift the restrictions on U.S. weapons being used inside Russia."

"While Ukraine has previously provided the U.S. some of its potential targets in Russia, this list is supposed to be more tailored," it reads.

According to Politico, Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly appealed to the Biden administration for the removal of restrictions on the use of American missiles to enable a more effective offensive on Russian territory. Washington believes that lifting restrictions could provoke Moscow into more aggressive actions in Ukraine.

At the same time, American officials note that - given the shift of key Russian targets out of range - this action "won’t make a strategic difference."

Washington believes that Kyiv does not have a sufficient number of tactical missile systems for long-range rockets, as Ukraine uses them for its offensive in Crimea. Additionally, the United States has a limited supply of ATACMS missiles, explain Politico's sources.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov previously stated that after a massive Russian bombardment of Ukraine on Monday, his country is "preparing its response. Weapons of its own production". He called on partners to lift restrictions on using donated weapons to attack enemy military targets.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky previously reported that Russia attacked his country with more than a hundred missiles and nearly a hundred drones. Most of his country's regions were attacked, resulting in fatalities and dozens of injuries - he reported. In his opinion, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is a "sick creature", but he does what the world allows him to do.