Great Britain Zelenskyi wants strong weapons - USA: Do everything for victory

At a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Kiev, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi once again called for the release of Western long-range weapons. "It is important that the Ukrainian arguments are heard," said Zelensky after talks with Blinken and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy. Ukraine has been demanding for months that its Western allies lift the current restrictions on long-range weapons. Kiev then wants to use the missiles to destroy military targets in the Russian hinterland.

Blinken initially did not publicly address the question of whether the USA would lift the restrictions on the weapons. However, he announced that the USA would do everything in its power to ensure a victory for Ukraine and a "just and lasting peace" in the Russian war of aggression. "We want Ukraine to win," Blinken said at a press conference with Lammy. He hinted that the issue of Ukraine's authorization for the use of long-range weapons will be discussed at a meeting between UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Joe Biden in Washington on Friday.

Selensky had already announced at the end of August that he wanted to present his plan for victory to Biden in September. Zelensky could combine this with a visit to the UN General Assembly in New York.

"We remain committed to the Ukrainian victory," said Blinken. The message to Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin was clear that the aid would not diminish. Blinken announced new US aid amounting to more than 700 million US dollars (more than 636 million euros). 325 million US dollars would be provided for the repair of energy infrastructure and power plants, as well as 290 million US dollars in humanitarian aid, for example for drinking water and medicine, and 102 million US dollars for mine clearance.

Tehran and Moscow deny provision of Iranian missiles

During their appearance, Blinken and Lammy also criticized the fact that Iran had provided Russia with short-range ballistic missiles for the war. Iran denies this. The two foreign ministers warned of a dangerous escalation in the war. The missiles would further intensify Russian aggression against Ukraine, said Blinken. In view of the suspected delivery of Iranian missiles to Russia, Ukraine demanded that the West should now also lift its restrictions on the long-range weapons in return.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied that Russia had received missiles from Iran. The accusations were unfounded because the Russian armed forces themselves had a full arsenal with all the weapons necessary to continue the war against Ukraine. At the same time, Peskov made it clear that Russia was already assuming that the weapons for the Ukrainian attacks had been released.

"Most likely, all these decisions have already been made," he said in view of Blinken and Lammy's visit to Kiev. Peskov said that the public was currently only being prepared for this decision. According to him, the West is thus becoming even more entangled in the conflict. He announced a corresponding reaction from Moscow. He did not give any details. Moscow repeatedly emphasizes that the West's arms deliveries to Ukraine are also a main reason for the continuation of the war.

Zelensky talks about planned peace summit

After the talks with Blinken and Lammy, Zelensky once again asked for support for the troops on the front and for Ukraine's overall strategy to achieve a just peace. The talks were also about a second peace summit and the necessary steps to make the meeting effective. Russia's participation was not desired at the first summit in Switzerland in June. For the new edition, there is talk that Russia could be invited.

The leadership in Moscow had always emphasized that peace could not be negotiated without Russia's participation. At the same time, Moscow emphasized that it would not allow either Ukraine or the West to dictate the terms. Russia had recently taken several towns and villages, particularly in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk. Observers therefore assume that Moscow has no real interest in negotiations.

Selensky rejects territorial cessions once again

Blinken and Lammy traveled to Kiev for the summit of the so-called Crimean Platform. At the meeting, President Zelensky once again ruled out the possibility of ceding the Russian-annexed Crimean peninsula. "Ukraine does not trade with its land and does not abandon its people," emphasized Zelensky at the meeting. This is part of Ukraine's morality. He called on those present to help with the repatriation of Ukrainians in Russian captivity.

In particular, the head of state highlighted the Crimean Tatar Muslim minority as a group in Crimea particularly persecuted by the Russian authorities. Zelensky appealed to the Muslim-dominated neighboring states of Turkey and Azerbaijan to exert pressure on Russia.

According to Selenskyj, there were more than 60 summit participants. Among others, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina were present. However, the majority of speakers limited themselves to video messages, including German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens).

Erdogan demands the return of Crimea to Ukraine

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is calling for Crimea to be returned to Ukraine. "Our support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine is unwavering. The return of Crimea to Ukraine is a demand of international law," he said in a video message.

Russia annexed the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula of Crimea in 2014. Since 2021, Kiev has been trying to raise international awareness of the situation on the peninsula with meetings of the so-called Crimean Platform. In 2022, the Kremlin launched a major attack on Ukraine. Almost 20 percent of Ukrainian territory is now controlled by Moscow. In addition to Crimea, Russia also lays claim to four other regions in the south and east of the neighboring country. Kiev has set the restoration of the 1991 borders as a minimum goal.