Ukraine wants Western approval to use long-range Storm Shadow missiles to target objectives deep within Russia to pressure Moscow into negotiating a ceasefire, according to The Guardian.
A senior Ukrainian official suggested that Russia might only consider negotiating if it perceives a credible threat to Moscow and Saint Petersburg.
"Ukraine has been lobbying for months to be allowed to use Storm Shadow against targets inside Russia, but with little success.
Nevertheless, as its army struggles on the eastern front, there is a growing belief that its best hope lies in counter-attack," The Guardian reports.
The Guardian recalls President Zelenskyy’s Independence Day speech in which he promised retaliation against the aggressor state for missile attacks on civilian areas.
Granting permission for Ukrainian forces to strike deep into Russia could undermine any potential reset in relations between Washington and Moscow.
For the past month, the US has not allowed Ukrainian forces to use Storm Shadow missiles against Russian territory. »
