Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Europe to “push Russia harder” in a speech marking 1,000 days since Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of the country.
Addressing a special session of the European Parliament on Tuesday, Zelensky emphasised, “The more time he [Putin] has, the worse the conditions become.”
The speech coincided with speculation that Ukraine had, for the first time, deployed the US-supplied ATACMS long-range missile system to strike deep within Russian territory. According to an unverified report on the RBC Ukraine news website, an ammunition depot in Russia’s Bryansk region, located roughly 100 kilometres from the border, was targeted.
However, Kyiv frequently uses domestically produced drones for such operations, and no direct evidence has surfaced to confirm the use of US missiles. On Monday, US officials announced that President Joe Biden had lifted sanctions restricting the ATACMS system’s use beyond Ukraine’s borders.
It is believed that Ukraine was granted permission to utilize these missiles only in defending its forces within Russia’s Kursk region. This is an area where Kyiv launched a surprise incursion in August and where a coordinated assault involving Russian and North Korean troops is reportedly anticipated.
During his speech, Zelensky urged European leaders to remain resolute, warning that Putin “[would] not stop on his own” and stressing the importance of pushing Russia toward a “just peace.” Referring to reports of North Korean troop deployments, he noted this as a clear indicator of Moscow’s intent to escalate the conflict.
“While some European leaders think about some elections, or something like this, at Ukraine’s expense, Putin is focused on winning this war,” Zelensky warned. Ukraine’s military commander-in-chief added to the sentiment in a Telegram post, reflecting on 1,000 days of “extremely complex, fierce battle for our existence” and the ongoing effort to “destroy the enemy.”
He described the battles fought in the “frozen trenches of Donetsk” and the “burning steppes of Kherson under shells, hail, and anti-aircraft guns,” stating, “Every night, even if there are a thousand of them, always ends with dawn.”
Meanwhile, reports from Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region revealed that eight people, including a child, were killed in a drone attack overnight. This comes just days after 89 others lost their lives in a separate strike on Sunday.
On the same day, the Kremlin officially approved an updated nuclear doctrine. The revisions stipulate that any aggression from a non-nuclear state, if supported by nuclear power, would be considered a joint attack on Russia. The doctrine now broadens the criteria for a nuclear response, which could include significant attacks involving conventional missiles, drones, or aircraft, as well as any assault on Belarus or threats to Russia’s sovereignty.
EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell Fontelles reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to Ukraine, stating in a video shared on X, “The European Union will continue to advance support to help achieve victory for Ukraine and to bring peace to our continent.” However, he acknowledged that the EU “need[ed] to do more and quicker.”
The video’s caption declared, “History will judge us based on our actions and reactions.” In the UK, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer reiterated his nation’s “ironclad” support for Ukraine. His statement came amidst speculation that Kyiv might be granted permission to use British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles to strike targets deep within Russian territory.
Russia, meanwhile, has vowed “tangible” retaliation if US missiles are used against its territory. The Kremlin described such actions as the direct involvement of the United States and its allies in the conflict.
(BBC)
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