President Volodymyr Zelensky has said in Germany, where Kyiv obtained a significant new defense aid package, that Ukraine has no plans to attack targets in Russia.
“We are not attacking Russian territory,” he said after talks in Berlin with Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
“We are preparing a counterattack to de-occupy the illegitimately conquered territories,” Mr Zelensky added.
Mr Scholz vowed to back Ukraine “for as long as it is necessary”, promising €2.7bn (£2.4bn) worth of weapons.
This includes advanced German Leopard tanks and more anti-aircraft systems to defend Ukraine from almost daily deadly Russian missile and drone attacks.
President Zelensky described the new tranche as “the largest since the beginning of the full-scale aggression” by Russia in February 2022.
The war has transformed Germany’s attitude towards Ukraine, moving from being a reluctant supplier of military hardware to virtually doubling its contribution overnight, the BBC’s Jenny Hill in Berlin says.
Russia accuses Ukraine of repeatedly hitting targets inside Russia, including a reported attack on Moscow’s Kremlin earlier this month.
Ukraine denies the accusations, while also stressing that it has a legitimate right to use force and other means to fully de-occupy its territories currently under Russian control. These include four regions in the south and east, as well as the Crimea peninsula, annexed by Moscow in 2014.
Later on Sunday, President Zelensky will travel to the western city of Aachen to be bestowed with the prestigious Charlemagne Prize – an honour given for efforts to foster European unity.
Previous winners include Winston Churchill, Pope Francis and Bill Clinton.
President Zelensky flew to Germany from Italy overnight, his plane escorted by two German Air Force fighter jets.
In Rome, the Ukrainian leader met Italian President Sergio President Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. He also had a private audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican.
The Argentine pontiff said he was constantly praying for peace in Ukraine.
The Pope also stressed the urgent need to help “the most fragile people, innocent victims” of the Russian invasion.
Meanwhile, Ms Meloni assured Mr Zelensky of Rome’s support for united Ukraine.