Ukraine urges NATO to lift curbs on targeting Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy spoke to US President Joe Biden amid a NATO summit. (AP PHOTO)

Ukraine has urged the NATO military alliance to lift restrictions on use of long-range weapons against targets in Russia, saying it would be "game-changer" in its war.

NATO members issued a declaration in support of Ukraine at a summit in Washington DC on Wednesday, promising additional aid and pledging to support its "irreversible path" to NATO membership. 

NATO leaders will hold a two-hour session with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Thursday afternoon.

Andryi Yermak, the chief of the Ukrainian president's cabinet, said he was "satisfied" with NATO's summit statement on Wednesday but added: "The partners have to take off any restrictions to use weapons not just by Ukrainian territory but have the possibility to answer (Russian attacks) including the territory of Russia.

He told a public forum on the final day of the three-day NATO summit that Russia had no restrictions and it would be "a real game-changer" if Ukraine's allies could lift all limits on the use of the weapons they supply to Ukraine.

NATO members have taken different approaches to how Ukraine can use weapons they donate. 

Ukrainian soldiers
Ukrainian officials say the country's forces need to be able to strike into Russian territory.

Some have made clear Ukraine can use them to strike targets deep inside Russia while the United States has taken a narrower approach, allowing its weapons to be used only just inside Russia's border against targets supporting Russian military operations in Ukraine.

The United States and its allies have used this week's summit to project unity in the face of what the see as a rising threat to Europe from Russia and China.

US President Joe Biden declared on Wednesday that "We can and will defend every inch of NATO territory".

Andryi Yermak
Presidential adviser Andryi Yermak says Ukraine is "satisfied" with the outcome of a NATO meeting.

NATO and the so-called Indo-Pacific Four - Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea - countries are set to launch new joint projects at the summit on Ukraine, artificial intelligence, disinformation and cybersecurity.

Meanwhile, the Russian capital Moscow was targeted in an overnight Ukrainian drone attack for the first time in weeks.

Moscow mayor Sergey Sobyanin said the unmanned aerial vehicle was shot down, in a post on Telegram on Thursday. 

He said the incident had ended without serious consequences as the drone was hit near the small town of Stupino, south of the capital.

Moscow is almost 700km from Russia's border with Ukraine and is rarely targeted by Ukraine. 

Sobyanin last reported an attempted attack a month ago. 

Most strikes occurred last year, when locations including the Moscow City business centre were hit.

Since then, air defences around Moscow have been massively reinforced.

Although Sobyanin said there was no damage to his city, other Russian regions were struck. 

The Belgorod region on the border with Ukraine was the worst affected. 

A man was killed in a village when a car was hit by a drone, authorities said.

In the border town of Shebekino, seven other people were injured by shelling, according to Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. 

Most of the victims suffered shrapnel injuries.

Ukraine has been striking objects important to the Russian war machine, including fuel depots and military airfields. 

Two days ago the fuel depot in the Volgograd region was attacked, likely forcing it to cease operations for three months.

with DPA

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store