Zelensky Urges NATO to Lift Restrictions on Strikes Inside Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on NATO countries to lift all restrictions on the use of Western weapons for strikes inside Russian territory. Speaking at a press conference in Washington, Zelensky emphasized the need for unrestricted access to long-range missiles to defend Ukraine effectively. He stated, 'If we want to win, if we want to be victorious, if we want to save and defend our country, we have to lift all restrictions.' Currently, several NATO countries impose limitations on the use of their weapons sent to Ukraine, with countries like Italy banning any use on Russian territory and the United States limiting strikes to legitimate military targets within a restricted depth inside Russia.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg supported Zelensky's stance, affirming that Ukraine has the right to defend itself, including striking military targets inside Russian territory, particularly near the border regions like Kharkiv. Stoltenberg's comments come as NATO countries acknowledged in a joint statement that Ukraine is on an 'irreversible path' toward joining the alliance. Zelensky expressed confidence that Ukraine will eventually become a NATO member, saying, 'We will and will continue to do everything in our power until the day comes when Ukraine is invited and becomes a member of NATO.'

Russia's Sabotage Campaign Across Europe

In a related development, U.S. intelligence discovered earlier this year that Russia was planning to assassinate Armin Papperger, the CEO of German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall, which produces artillery and military vehicles for Ukraine. According to U.S. and Western officials, this plot was part of a broader Russian campaign to sabotage the European defense industry supporting Ukraine. The U.S. informed Germany of the plan, allowing German security services to protect Papperger and thwart the assassination attempt. The revelation underscores the lengths to which Russia is willing to go to disrupt the flow of Western weapons to Ukraine.

Russia has been waging a sabotage campaign across Europe for over six months, recruiting local operatives for arson, vandalism, and other disruptive activities aimed at weakening public support for Ukraine. These actions have raised concerns among NATO officials, who warn that the sabotage campaign could escalate into an armed conflict in Eastern Europe. A senior NATO official remarked, 'We are seeing sabotage, assassination plots, arson. We are seeing things that have a cost in human lives.'

NATO's Response and Future Actions

NATO members are actively working to strengthen intelligence sharing and disrupt Russian sabotage activities. The campaign has been a major point of debate among NATO officials gathered in Washington for the bloc's 75th anniversary summit. The alliance aims to improve coordination to identify and counteract these threats more effectively. The National Security Council (NSC) has emphasized the seriousness of Russia's subversion campaign, with spokesperson Adrienne Watson stating, 'The intensification of Russia's subversion campaign is something we are taking extremely seriously and have focused intensely on in recent months.'

Recent incidents highlight the severity of the situation. For instance, U.S. military bases across Europe were placed on high alert after receiving intelligence about potential sabotage attacks by Russian-backed actors. Additionally, German authorities arrested two individuals plotting bombings and arson attacks on behalf of Russia, and several men in London were accused of collaborating with Russian intelligence to set fire to a warehouse linked to Ukraine. These events demonstrate the ongoing threat posed by Russia's covert operations and the need for a robust NATO response.