Ukraine’s audacious invasion of Russian territory proves that Kremlin threats of retaliation are nothing but a bluff, President Zelensky declared, urging allies to ignore President Putin’s so-called “red lines” and loosen restrictions on Ukraine’s use of western-supplied weapons.
Restrictions were placed on the use of western weapons against Russian territory from the beginning of the 2022 invasion due to fears that their use would trigger a wider conflict between Nato and Russia.
Those restrictions have been slipping over time but Kyiv has yet to secure permission to use the longest-range missiles against Russia, including the British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles, whose proposed use has provoked a diplomatic spat between Washington and London.
On August 6, Ukraine launched its ground invasion into Russia’s Kursk region without