While European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Friday that she was considering granting a €35 billion loan to kyiv, financed by frozen Russian assets, the Ukrainian president still regrets waiting for “permission” to use long-range weapons on Russian territory. Volodymyr Zelensky said a quick decision was necessary because Russia is “moving” its planes to more distant bases.
Key information to remember
⇒ Russia: fire and evacuations in the Krasnodar region after a Ukrainian attack
⇒ Volodymyr Zelensky is still waiting for “permission” to use long-range weapons used in Russia
⇒ Ukrainian President likely to meet with Donald Trump on September 26 or 27
Russia: Fire and evacuations in the Krasnodar region
A nighttime Ukrainian drone attack has sparked a fire in the Krasnodar region in southwestern Russia, forcing authorities to “temporarily” evacuate more than a thousand residents, although there have been no injuries so far, the local governor said on Saturday, September 21. kyiv’s army confirmed that strikes targeted two military warehouses in Russia, used in particular to store munitions, on the night of Friday to Saturday. These are a site in Tikhoretsk, in the Krasnodar region (southwest), and a second warehouse located in the Tver region (west), the same source said.
The drone attack “did not cause any casualties,” Governor Veniamine Kondratiev said. Two drones were shot down by air defenses and falling debris “started” a fire in the Tikhoretsky district, he said on Telegram. Authorities have decided to “temporarily” evacuate 1,200 people from the village of Kuban, near the scene of the fire, he added. The Defense Ministry had earlier said it had shot down 18 drones over the Krasnodar region, and 16 over the Sea of Azov. Other drones struck the Tver region. Traffic on a highway had to be stopped, before resuming at midday, regional authorities said on Telegram. The strike occurred in the Toropets district, Tver Region Governor Igor Rudenia said.
Long-range weapons used in Russia: Zelensky still waiting for “permission”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he has not yet received “permission” from Washington and London to use long-range missiles against Russia, with the West likely to fear Moscow’s reaction. “Neither America nor the UK has given us permission to use these weapons on Russian territory, on any target and at any distance,” and so Kiev has not done so, he told media outlets including AFP on Friday evening. “I think they are afraid of escalation,” he added.
Ukraine is demanding permission to strike Russian territory with longer-range missiles, but Western powers, including US President Joe Biden, are wary of Russia’s response. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that such a move would mean that “NATO countries are at war with Russia.” Zelensky has said a quick decision is needed because Russia is “moving” its planes to more distant bases.
The use of long-range missiles is part of a plan to end the war that Zelensky plans to present to his American counterpart Joe Biden during a trip to the United States next week. The American leader “can further strengthen Ukraine and make important decisions” by the end of his presidency, he said. The plan is also expected to be presented to Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump. It will then be “open to everyone,” the Ukrainian president said, suggesting that it would be made public.
Zelensky says he will meet Trump
Volodymyr Zelensky said he would use his trip to the United States to “talk to the American Congress”, saying he needed their “support”, and that he would probably meet Donald Trump on September 26 or 27.
The latter, president from 2017 to 2021, has been very critical of the billions of dollars spent by Washington to help kyiv, while Ukraine depends largely on Western aid, particularly American. The presidential election in the United States on November 5 is therefore a source of concern, because any change in policy could have significant consequences.
Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that he would resolve the war between Russia and Ukraine “in 24 hours” – without ever explaining how.