Zelensky Says He Won’t Attack Russian Territory—But Russia Blasts U.S. For Sending Rockets To Ukraine

Topline

Ukraine is “not interested” in attacking Russian territory and only intends to use foreign supplied weapons to drive out invading forces from its own land, the country’s president Volodymyr Zelensky said to Newsmax in an interview while Moscow accused Washington of “adding fuel to fire” by sending more advanced weapons systems to Kyiv.

Key Facts

Speaking to Newsmax, Zelensky responded to the White House’s concerns about U.S. supplied weapons being used to attack Russia, stating the fighting is taking place on its own territory and not on Russia’s.

Zelensky said Ukraine’s primary goal was to use foreign military aid to “de-block” its own cities and needs weapons that can hit targets “as far as 100 kilometers (62 miles)” away.

Zelensky’s statement comes after President Joe Biden said the U.S. does not plan to send artillery to Ukraine which can reach Russia’s territory—likely referencing Russian towns and cities near Ukraine’s eastern border.

Despite his concerns, Biden announced in an op-ed published in the New York Times the U.S. is sending “advanced rocket systems and munitions” to Ukraine that will allow it to carry out precision strikes on battlefield targets.

Biden noted the U.S. was not “encouraging or enabling” Ukraine to carry out strikes outside its own borders and is not interested in a prolonged conflict “ just to inflict pain on Russia.”

The Kremlin, however, dismissed Biden’s contention stating it was assessing the threat of these rockets targeting Russian territory and implied such an incident could raise the risk of direct conflict between Russia and the U.S., Reuters reported.

Tangent

In a departure from its reluctance to send advanced weapons to Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced on Wednesday Berlin will send its most modern air defense system to Ukraine to help protect against Russian airstrikes. The Iris-T surface-launched missile is a medium-range air defense system that is currently in service with the German, Swedish and Norwegian militaries.

Big Number

Nearly $5 billion. That’s the total amount of military aid Washington sent to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s invasion in February, according to the New York Times. This includes Biden’s latest package worth $700 million which also includes Javelin anti-tank missiles, Stinger anti-air missiles, radars, drones and Soviet-era Mi-17 helicopters.

Key Background

The latest round of foreign military aid arrives at a time when the conflict in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region continues to intensify. In the past few days, Russian forces have managed to make progress in the Luhansk province and they now control 70% of Sievierodonetsk—the last major city in the province that was not already under Russian control. Sievierodonetsk continues to witness heavy fighting with the region’s governor telling the Associated Press that around 13,000 people still remain in the city even as 90% of its residential buildings have been destroyed. Russia’s success in Sievierodonetsk comes after its offensive in other parts of the Donbas region was thwarted by heavy losses due to Ukrainian counter-attacks and a botched river crossing.

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Western nations vow to send more, better arms to Ukraine (Associated Press)

Zelenskyy: World Faces ‘Famine’ If We Don’t Extend Defenses (Newsmax)

President Biden: What America Will and Will Not Do in Ukraine (New York Times)