Ukraine presses for accelerated U.S. weapon supplies, says Ambassador Markarova

She specifically highlighted the need for additional air defense systems to counter escalating Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities.

“We’re very grateful to those who are providing us with their systems,” Markarova said. “We’re grateful to the U.S. for sourcing them, funding some of them, but we need more. It’s time to make brave decisions and provide us with more of these systems so we can deploy them right away where we need them.”

Kyiv has also been pushing to strike targets in Russian territory with American-made weapons.

“We are defending ourselves, whether we are striking Russian troops on our territory or outside of it. We have been trying to do that, but there were some restrictions. I won’t go into discussions publicly about where we stand with the U.S. or any of our other partners. But it’s clear that Russia is the aggressor here.”

On May 17, Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh reiterated that the U.S. had not lifted its ban on Ukraine using U.S.-made weapons for strikes inside Russia.

"Our position has not changed,” she said. “We believe that the equipment and capabilities we, and other countries, provide to Ukraine should be used to reclaim Ukrainian sovereign territory."

The use of Western weapons on Russia’s territory

Ukraine has likely received permission from the United States to use American weapons to strike Russian territory, Le Monde reported on May 16, analyzing statements made by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his visit to Kyiv.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron pledged $3.74 billion in annual military aid to Ukraine on May 3, stating that London has no objection to Ukraine using weapons to strike Russia.

Le Monde considers Cameron and Blinken's statements "a sign of a deliberate change in the West's position" on this issue.