Ukraine’s Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba is urging EU countries to allow Ukraine to use donated weapons to strike deep into Russian territory. This comes in the wake of the Kursk incursion and the occupation of Russian territory by foreign forces for the first time since World War II. Kuleba emphasized the need for timely decisions and action to protect Ukrainian cities and children and to reduce Russia’s capacity to inflict damage on Ukraine. The issue of lifting restrictions on weaponry has been on the EU’s table for months, with some member states granting the request while others have not.
The devastation caused by the ground operation in the Kursk Oblast of southern Russia has raised fears in Brussels that Moscow wants to trigger a humanitarian crisis in winter and spark a new refugee wave across Europe. Kuleba has stressed the importance of bold decisions by Western allies to support Ukraine and help decrease Russia’s capacity to inflict damage on critical infrastructure. He called out those who criticize Ukraine’s success on the ground, pointing out that Russia’s success depends on the readiness of partners to make bold decisions.
Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, backed Kuleba’s call to lift restrictions on weaponry to enable Ukraine’s right to self-defense, emphasizing that Russia aims to destroy Ukraine’s electricity system and cause a humanitarian crisis. The issue of lifting restrictions lies primarily in Washington DC, where the Biden administration maintains limits on certain weapons fearing an escalation of the conflict. The EU institutions and member states have pledged a significant amount of military support for Ukraine since the invasion began, but delays in actual delivery of assistance hinder war planning.
During a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels, Kuleba raised concerns about the gap between the announcement of military supplies and the actual delivery of that assistance, noting that the delays are excessively long and hindering Ukraine’s war planning. He also highlighted the consistent supplies from North Korea and Iran to Moscow, allowing the invasion to continue. Lithuania’s Gabrielius Landsbergis urged EU countries to step up and take the situation seriously, emphasizing the need for air defense systems like the Patriots systems that Ukraine desperately needs to repel Russia’s bombardment.
The issue of allowing Ukraine to use donated weapons to strike deep into Russian territory remains unresolved among EU member states, with some granting the request and others hesitating to do so. The devastation caused by the ground operation in southern Russia has raised concerns about Russia’s intentions to trigger a humanitarian crisis in winter and spark a new refugee wave. Kuleba has emphasized the need for bold decisions by Western allies to support Ukraine and decrease Russia’s capacity to inflict damage on critical infrastructure, highlighting the importance of timely action to protect Ukrainian cities and children. The delays in the delivery of military assistance have been a point of concern, with calls for EU countries to take the situation seriously and provide the necessary support to Ukraine.
