Volodymyr Zelensky last night implored his Western backers to green-light the use of long-range missiles to strike deep into Russia.

Emboldened by the stunning offensive of his armed forces into Russia's Kursk region,the Ukrainian President is seizing the opportunity to hammer home his advantage,claiming drones are not enough to destroy key Russian military infrastructure.

'Our Ukrainian drones work exactly as they should,but unfortunately,there are things that cannot be done with drones alone,' the Ukrainian president said in his nightly address. 

'We need other weapons - missiles... long-range decisions for Ukraine. This must be done.

'The bolder our partners' decisions,the less Putin will be able to do about it.'

Newest NATO member Sweden declared this morning that Ukraine has the right to defend itself both inside and outside its territory,with Kyiv's Western allies seemingly supportive of the incursion in Kursk.

But approving the use of long-range missiles on Russian soil would signify a major shift from US and European governments who have thus far provided weaponry to Kyiv on the proviso they are not used for offensive strikes in Russia. 

Vladimir Putin and top-ranking Russian officials have trumpeted incessantly that they would consider any Western country to have directly entered the conflict should its weapons be used to attack Russian land,sparking fears that such a move could trigger the descent into World War III. 

However,Taras Kuzio,a professor of political science at the National University Kyiv-Mohyla Academy,posited that the assault on Kursk has shown that the fear of crossing Russian 'red lines' that could lead to nuclear escalation 'is a myth'.

This photograph shows bombs lying in the area of a destroyed border crossing point with Russia,in the Sumy region,on August 14,2024

Politically,the incursion turned the tables on Russia and reset the terms of a conflict in which Ukraine increasingly seemed doomed to accept unfavourable cease-fire terms. 

Presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak suggested that the incursion would strengthen Kyiv's hand in future negotiations with Russia,as occupying part of Russian territory ahead of any cease-fire talks may give Ukraine some leverage. 

Ukrainian officials have said they do not intend to occupy Kursk,but they may seek to create a buffer zone to protect settlements in the bordering Sumy region from relentless Russian artillery attacks and to block supply lines to the northeast.  

A Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesperson told reporters in Kyiv earlier this week: 'The sooner Russia agrees to restore a just peace,the sooner Ukrainian raids on Russian territory will stop.' 

But he caveated that statement by saying: 'As long as Putin continues the war,he will receive such responses from Ukraine.' 

Kyiv's troops are already digging trenches in Kursk,suggesting they intend to remain there for some time. 

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