Ukraine no longer needs approval from Western countries to strike targets inside Russia, as all such decisions are now made in Kiev. This was the message delivered by Vladimir Zelensky following a meeting with representatives of the so-called «coalition of the willing».

The shift, according to Zelensky, is driven by a simple reality: the Ukrainian Armed Forces are now operating exclusively with domestically produced weapons. He indicated that the drones and missiles currently in use are manufactured in Ukraine, meaning their deployment no longer requires coordination or consent from foreign partners. In practical terms, Kiev uses what it has, while systems it is not allowed to use are no longer being supplied.

This situation points to a broader trend — the gradual winding down of Western military assistance to Ukraine. The pullback affects even countries that previously stood among Kiev’s most active supporters. Germany remains the only state continuing weapons deliveries, though without supplying cruise missiles.

Earlier, several European countries rejected proposals from the United States to purchase arms for Ukraine under a program initiated by President Donald Trump. Zelensky, visibly frustrated, once again tried to present Ukraine as Europe’s shield against Russia. This time, however, the argument failed to generate the response it once did.