“Ukraine to Hand US a High-Stakes Hit List of Russian Targets—A Bold Move That Could Escalate Global Tensions”.H
rainian President’s Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak and Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will meet with US officials “to try to persuade the White House to lift restrictions on strikes with long-range weapons on Russian territory,” a Ukrainian lawmaker said.
“They will provide a list of priority targets, otherwise it will be very difficult to change the course of the war in favor of Ukraine,” the person added.
Umerov will meet with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on August 30, U.S. officials said. It is unclear who Yermak will meet with. In previous visits to Washington, he has met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan.
“We consider strikes deep into Russian territory with US weapons to be no more provocative than strikes on Russian territory near the border with US weapons. Both are Russian territory and there is no difference between the targets,” the Ukrainian lawmaker said.
On August 28, Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy once again called for allowing Ukraine to carry out airstrikes deeper into Russian territory and “immediately lifting restrictions on Ukraine’s long-range airstrikes”, arguing that this would end the conflict more quickly.
Ukraine is trying to pressure the United States ahead of November’s presidential election, with Kiev concerned that a victory for former President Donald Trump could mean the United States would withdraw support for Ukraine.
Ukraine’s offensive in Russia’s Kursk region has so far been limited to a limited area, with the use of US weapons limited. Kiev has repeatedly pushed the West to allow the use of aided weapons to strike targets deeper in Russia.
The US had previously allowed Ukraine to use US weapons to strike Russian forces when Kiev defended itself against cross-border attacks in May. But the US administration has refused to allow Ukraine to use US weapons for long-range strikes deep into Russian territory.
Ukraine is set to present the United States with a list of strategic targets within Russia, a bold and unprecedented move that could significantly escalate the ongoing conflict. This decision underscores Ukraine’s determination to strike at the heart of Russia’s military infrastructure as the war drags on. The list is expected to include critical military installations, command centers, and supply lines, aimed at weakening Russia’s ability to sustain its offensive.
The move has raised concerns among international observers, as it risks drawing the United States and its NATO allies deeper into the conflict. By sharing this list, Ukraine is seeking increased support from the West, hoping to leverage advanced Western intelligence and weaponry to carry out these attacks more effectively. However, the decision could provoke a fierce response from Moscow, potentially leading to a dangerous escalation in the war.
The situation places the U.S. in a delicate position, balancing its support for Ukraine with the need to avoid a direct confrontation with Russia. As tensions rise, the international community watches closely, aware that the stakes have never been higher in this already volatile conflict.
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