On August 29, top European Union diplomat Josep Borrell reiterated his call for the lifting of restrictions on Ukraine’s use of Western weapons to attack targets in Russia. Speaking at an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, Borrell stressed the need to make full use of the weapons supplied to Ukraine in accordance with international law.
Despite Ukraine’s appeals, Western countries, including the US and the UK, have restricted Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons such as ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles to prevent deep strikes inside Russia – ostensibly with the aim of avoiding escalation.
“We must lift restrictions on the use of weapons against Russian military targets in accordance with international law,” Borrell said this, according to the Associated Press.
He argued that current restrictions rendered some of the weapons supplied “useless” to Ukraine’s efforts to defend itself against Russian aggression.
Borrell’s comments come against a backdrop of Ukraine facing increasing pressure from Russian attacks on civilians and infrastructure.
“Russia wants to bomb a European country into complete surrender” he said, condemning these actions.
Top EU diplomat Borrell calls for lifting of restrictions on Ukraine’s use of weapons in Russia
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who was present at the meeting, said:
“Russia’s success depends on one thing: the willingness of its partners to make bold decisions,” Kuleba explained, according to AP.
He stressed that Ukraine only intends to “legitimate military objectives“ within Russia and demanded the rapid delivery of the promised military support, in particular Patriot air defense systems.
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