West discusses providing Ukraine with weapons for preemptive strikes and creating "decisive edge" over Russia - media

This was reported by the interlocutors of the Evening Standard involved in the discussions.

The article says that Western countries have been watching the war for more than nine months and are trying to find out "what it would take to give Ukraine a decisive edge without crossing over into an offensive against Russia."

One source suggested that the discussions could eventually lead to the supply of modern fighter jets to Ukraine.

It clarified that "the envelope is anything short of attacks on Russian soil other than those that are directly engaged in the fighting in Ukraine."

We can also talk about the supply of weapons that would allow Ukraine to carry out strikes ahead of Russia and not just react to Russian attacks, for example, on critical infrastructure facilities.

"That’s the tricky question but it’s one that people are starting to look at because the alternative which is fundamentally to let things grind on as they are that is not attractive either. That is work that is going on in the US and with key Nato allies. It has not reached a conclusion yet but it is something that we look at very carefully," the source told the Evening Standard.

He clarified that the supplying Ukraine with modern fighter jets is being considered but not yet discussed: "A lot of it does depends on the nature of the Russian attacks and where the Ukrainians most want to put their effort."

At the same time, the interlocutors of the Evening Standard stressed that support for Ukraine would still be limited to avoid a wider conflict with Russia.

• The day before, it became known that the administration of US President Joe Biden is finalizing plans to send the Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine, which may be announced this week.