Zelenskyy presses allies’ support on air defence, US agrees to more aid

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin acknowledged the plea but maintained that no single military capability would be decisive in the war. “There’s no one capability that will in and of itself be decisive in this campaign,” Austin told reporters, while also reiterating the continued support for Ukraine, as reported by Reuters.

Austin also pointed out that Russia had moved its aircraft out of range of ATACMS missiles and noted that Ukraine possesses its own means, such as drones, to strike Russian targets. “There are a lot of targets in Russia – big country, obviously,” Austin said, emphasising Ukraine’s existing drone capabilities, Reuters mentioned.

Despite calls from countries such as Lithuania and Estonia to expand long-range capabilities, Western allies remain wary of allowing strikes deep into Russia, fearing escalation.

However, Austin’s remarks appeared more focused on the broader Western effort to sustain Ukraine’s campaign to repel Russian forces from its territory, and included an announcement of another $250 million in security assistance as the Us official mentioned that, “We hear your urgency. And we share it.”

Zelenskyy’s concerns come as Ukraine prepares for a harsh winter and navigates complex international dynamics, with some of its key allies seemingly hesitant to provide the full range of support needed for long-range missile strikes.

Kyiv argues that it is facing an unfair fight, as Russia can bomb military and civilian sites across Ukraine, while Ukraine’s western allies restrict it from striking back at Russian airfields, military bases, and key infrastructure.

This week, a Russian missile strike on the central Ukrainian city of Poltava hit a military training institute, killing at least 51 people. Another rare attack on the western city of Lviv claimed seven lives, including four members of one family.