Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Permitting strikes deep into Russia is more beneficial for Europe than continuously supplying Ukraine’s air defence, MEP Michael Gahler said.
The views shared by German MEP Michael Gahler during the International Conference ‘Pan-European Idea for Victory and Peace in Ukraine’, carried out in Chernivtsi, Ukraine, on October 11–12 with participants including Members of the European Parliament, Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada, international organizations, public figures, political figures, diplomats, professionals, teachers, students, and local officials. During the conference, the participants examined key issues related to helping Ukraine and European integration in the context of the lasting war.
How does MEP Gahler view strikes on Russian territory?
“Regarding military assistance to Ukraine, we are currently disappointed with the level of support from the EU countries. We are dissatisfied that there are still limitations on the use of weapons supplied to Ukraine against targets on the Russian territory. Therefore, it is much more rational for us to allow Ukraine to execute long-range strikes against Russian military targets rather than depleting its air defence systems and having us repeatedly provide more. It’s better to let Ukraine strike in-depth into Russia,”
stated the MEP.
Gahler remarked that he had been sitting in the European Parliament for over 25 years and had always defended Ukraine’s sovereignty and democratic development. Following Russia’s occupation of Crimea and the start of its military actions in Luhansk and Donetsk, MEPs took a clear perspective and supported sanctions against Russia. When Ukraine signed the Association Agreement with the EU, it helped in implementing reforms to increase Ukraine’s movement toward Europe.
How has the EU supported Ukraine’s sovereignty and reforms?
“We have persisted in supporting Ukraine’s European path even after President Zelensky took office. Similarly, as early as 2021, the European Parliament debated Russia’s intentions to invade Ukraine, warning of the danger. We supported the introduction of pre-emptive sanctions against Russia and for supplying military aid to Ukraine. After Russia’s full-scale invasion, we pressed on full EU membership for Ukraine, which eventually led to candidate status,”
added Gahler.
How do cyberattacks affect both Europe and Ukraine?
According to him, despite the existence of pro-Russian forces in some Western European countries, most European politicians comprehend that Ukraine is currently battling a fight between dictatorship and freedom, cruelty and peace.
“The struggle is occurring not only in Ukraine but across Europe. Unfortunately, Ukraine is on the front lines of this fight. We are also suffering from cyberattacks and propaganda in the news and on social media. We must help Ukraine, but we also need to support our societies, which needs political leadership currently in short supply,”
stated the German MEP.
