Ukraine is seeking to acquire longer-range weapons from the United States to address increasingly deadly Russian airstrikes, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy indicated on Thursday. Speaking to reporters in Copenhagen following a meeting of European Union leaders regarding military support, Zelenskiy remarked, “After my meeting with the president of the United States we will, maybe, have something more,” though he did not specify which weapons he hopes to secure.
Recently, the Trump administration has adopted a more aggressive stance, as efforts to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin have stalled. Among the options reportedly being considered are Tomahawk missiles, recognized as some of the most advanced weapons available in the U.S. arsenal.
Ukraine aims to strengthen its position in any future negotiations by conducting longer-range strikes on Russian military targets, which would enhance its capacity to retain territory.
The Kremlin has responded to the prospect of U.S. military support, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov labeling recent comments from U.S. officials about providing long-range weaponry and enabling strikes on Russian soil a “dangerous symptom” of potential escalation, according to the Vesti news outlet.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who appeared alongside Zelenskiy, emphasized the importance of considering Ukraine as the first line of defense for Europe, particularly as the conflict shows no signs of resolution with Putin’s reluctance to pursue peace talks. “You have to run your armed forces; it’s extremely expensive, and it’s not possible for Ukraine to do it on your own,” Frederiksen stated, advocating for increased European support to bolster Kyiv’s military capabilities.
Following President Trump’s suspension of direct military aid to Ukraine earlier this year, the country has been receiving U.S. weapons through a specialized procurement program called PURL. This program allows Ukraine to purchase American-made arms, including Patriot anti-aircraft defense systems, with funding from European partners.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Fox News that “the president has made it very clear that we are going to continue to sell weapons to NATO, so NATO can provide those weapons to Ukraine.”
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to the text.