VietTimes – Kiev needs new “bold decisions” from the West to defeat Russia, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the new Cabinet at 10 Downing Street on July 19 in London (Photo: Getty)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his administration “insists” that its Western allies must take more “bold steps” to support Kiev’s war effort, singling out the UK as a country that once held “real leadership” but is now falling behind.

In his daily address on August 17, Mr. Zelensky expressed his intention to “fix” the situation with Western allies who are said to be limiting Ukraine’s “long-range strike capabilities” and preventing Kiev from using all the weapons it has been given to support Russia ’s invasion of the Kursk Region .

“The long-range capabilities of our forces are the answer to all the most important problems, to all the most strategic problems of this war,” he said, promising to “intensify diplomacy” with the US, UK, France and “other partners” to remove all barriers to the use of weapons.

“In particular, throughout this war, we have seen that the UK has shown real leadership. In terms of weapons, politics and support for Ukrainian social life… This is what reflects the strength of the UK,” Mr. Zelensky declared.

“But unfortunately things have slowed down now. We will discuss how to overcome this. Because long-range capability is a matter of principle for us,” he added.

“We emphasize the need for bold steps, bold decisions. We need things that will really change the course of the war, leading to a just peace,” he said, referring to his so-called “peace formula,” which Moscow has repeatedly rejected as “far from reality.”

On August 6, Ukrainian forces launched their largest offensive into Russian territory since the conflict escalated in February 2022. Western officials celebrated and voiced support for Ukraine’s offensive but denied any involvement in the operation.

According to The Times, some of the troops involved in the attack on the Kursk Region were trained by British military experts in the weeks leading up to the surprise attack. According to Sky News, Ukrainian forces are also believed to be using British Challenger 2 tanks inside Russia’s Kursk Region.

Despite Kiev’s request, the British government reportedly refused to allow Ukraine to use Storm Shadow missiles to support the attack. British Defense Secretary John Healey stated that the UK was providing weapons to Kiev to “defend their sovereign country,” adding that this “does not preclude them from striking targets in Russia.” However, he made it clear that Britain would not participate in any such attack.

Kiev forces have repeatedly used long-range missiles supplied by Western allies to launch attacks on Russia. They insist that their policy allows Ukraine to use Storm Shadows and other long-range missiles to strike any areas Kiev claims, including Crimea, but not “internationally recognized” Russian territory.

A Pentagon spokesman reiterated this week that the US also would not allow the Ukrainian military to use long-range US missiles to strike deep into Russian territory.