Ukraine’s Zelenskyy thanks US defense chief for permission to strike Russia with US weapons

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday thanked US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin for Washington’s recent decision to allow Kyiv to use American weapons against Russia on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

“The Head of State expressed gratitude for the adoption of an important decision by the U.S. Presidential Administration to allow limited strikes with American weapons on the territory of Russia to effectively counter Russia's attempts to expand the combat zone,” said a Ukrainian presidential statement following bilateral talks between Zelenskyy and Austin.

On Friday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told a news conference in Prague that his country approved Ukraine’s request to use US-supplied weapons to conduct strikes in Russian territory on the condition that these strikes will be limited to the border areas of Kharkiv, where Russian forces entered early May and have since advanced.

Thanking his US counterpart Joe Biden and his administration for their continued support of Ukraine’s fight for "freedom and independence," Zelenskyy emphasized the critical importance of the military aid package passed by US Congress late April, according to the statement.

Zelenskyy and Austin discussed Ukraine's defense needs being addressed by the US, including training and equipping new brigades, it added.

“This is the most important track now to protect the lives of Ukrainians, our cities, communities and civilian infrastructure. It is crucial,” Zelenskyy said, thanking Austin for his active efforts to strengthen Ukraine's air defense system.

The statement also noted that Zelenskyy and Austin also touched on the topic of the F-16 coalition for Ukraine, particularly on the need for joint efforts to accelerate the delivery of fighter jets.

The two also noted the progress achieved on the preparation of a bilateral security agreement between Ukraine and the US, while Zelenskyy conveyed Russia’s efforts to disrupt the upcoming Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland on June 15-16.

Amid his visit to Singapore that began on Saturday, Zelenskyy held talks with his East Timorese counterpart Jose Ramos-Horta, marking the first-ever meeting between the two countries at the heads of state level.

Zelenskyy also held talks with Indonesia's President-elect Prabowo Subianto, who won the country’s Feb. 14 general election and is scheduled to be inaugurated in October when incumbent President Joko Widodo completes his second term.