Zelensky renews advocacy for US-made long-range missiles amid senatorial pressure on Biden to supply more as he acknowledges ‘slight disagreements’ over cluster munitions
- Zelensky made the call during a press event in Vilnius
- France supplies its own long-range weapons
- Washington has held back for fear that this could lead to escalation
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday he will urge President Biden to provide longer-range missiles to defend against relentless Russian missile strikes.
Zelensky made the plea at a press event in Vilnius when he spoke of efforts to get his country into the NATO alliance after releasing a joint statement yesterday that gives no timeline for when it will be invited to join.
“We need long-range weapons. This deficit remains and I will raise this issue,” he said, raising yet another point of tension at the NATO summit here. He was speaking a day after French President Emmanuel Macron said his country would begin supplying critical long-range missiles.
Ukraine mounts a counter-offensive, but is slower to recapture territory than some Western advisers expected against entrenched Russian positions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he plans to push for more long-range missiles to reach the target
French President Emmanuel Macron said Paris would provide the SCALP surface-to-air missile system to hit targets further into Russian-held territory.
“We have decided to deliver new missiles that will enable deep strikes against Ukraine,” he said, without saying how many would be sent from his arsenal of just under 400.
That only increases pressure on Washington to consider coping with the escalation from Paris, even though the administration has been cautious about supplying weapons that would allow Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory.
Washington has delayed approval of the missiles with a range of up to 300 kilometers over fears it could allow Ukraine to attack inside Russia and lead to escalation.
A group of senators from key defense committees who traveled to the top told DailyMail.com they could get behind the government by supplying longer-range ATACM missiles.
“Well, I haven’t seen what President Macron has proposed, but I think all the extra weapons being delivered to Ukraine so they can win this war is a good thing,” said Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.). ‘[I] certainly appreciate the French president’s willingness to provide more guns and better weapons.
Zelensky also said Ukraine would use cluster munitions against Russian forces in territory they occupied in Ukraine
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said “Russia has cluster bombs for all occasions,” although it has already used them in its attack on Ukraine
Asked about any associated risks, he said: “I don’t believe we’re going to encourage Putin any more than we already have, right? I mean, he’s already started a war that’s the biggest we’ve had in Europe since World War II. We must give Ukraine the weapons to win.’
“That’s good news for Ukraine,” said Senator Jeanne Shaheen (DN.H.), a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, when asked about the French move.
‘I think it’s helpful. I think the more we work together, and that’s the whole point of this NATO summit and our alliance working together to work together on our shared security interests.”
But Senator Angus King (I-Vt.) spoke to the balances inherent in any decision.
It is clear that the president is balancing between full support for Ukraine versus not provoking an escalation of the conflict. That’s a decision to be made on a case-by-case basis, weapon by weapon.”
He said it could turn out to be more provocative and powerful feed the ‘paranoia’ of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Zelensky also acknowledged “slight disagreements” over cluster munitions that Biden agreed to provide after an internal debate.
He promised to limit its use, as he has done before.
“We only fight on our land. They’re killing our people.’ He said his troops would only use the munitions against military targets, only against the occupied territory of Ukraine. This is something that is under control. It’s not used anywhere else.’
Russia was accused of dropping masses of cluster bombs at the start of the invasion, and Ukraine collected mountains of exploded grenades.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, in response to the Biden administration’s decision, said that “Russia has cluster bombs for all occasions” and threatened to use them even though Russia already has.