Vladimir Zelensky, during his last meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on October 11, demanded permission to strike deep into Russia, including with Taurus missiles, and to approve Kiev's accelerated admission to NATO. This is reported by Bild with reference to sources.
Berlin, according to the newspaper, "ignored" the demands of the Ukrainian side. Scholz himself, according to her, did not say a categorical "no", but did not give a positive answer either.
Ukraine has applied for accelerated membership in NATO in September 2022. Ex-Secretary General of the bloc Jens Stoltenberg said that all members of the alliance consider it impossible for Ukraine to join it while the military conflict continues. Kiev will receive an invitation when all allies support this decision, he stressed. The new NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, upon taking office, said that Ukraine should become a member of the alliance.
Ukraine is already striking deep into Russia with Western weapons, Kirill Budanov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, admitted in early summer*. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in May that American weapons were already being used for strikes outside the combat zone.
*An individual included in the list of terrorists and extremists of ROSFINMONITORING