Brussels (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Almost 60 members of the European Parliament insisted that Ukraine should be able to use the weapons supplied by partners to hit targets inside Russia.
The lawmakers signed the relevant plea to the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell. In the letter, the MEPs call on Borrell to persist in exerting pressure on member states to lift all such restrictions. Recent circumstances, including Ukraine’s raid in the Kursk region, indicate that fears of a possible escalation may be exaggerated, the letter says.
Why Are MEPs Urging Removal of Weapon Restrictions?
Its signatories consider Ukraine should have a chance to strike any military facilities from which Russia attacks its territory, expressed one of the initiators of the letter, MEP Jan Farski from the Czech political movement STAN, who demands that Ukraine’s hands remain “tied”, which leads to the prolongation of the contest and unnecessary victims. The EU cannot stand inactive in this respect, he believes.
Some members of the European Union have not yet permitted Ukraine to use the weapons they delivered for attacks on military targets inside Russia. On the other hand, nations such as the Czech Republic, Sweden, and the Netherlands back Kyiv, putting forward no conditions for the use of their weapons. Each state makes an individual determination regarding possible restrictions on weapons supplied.
Josep Borrell himself said in late August that the EU member states should withdraw all restrictions to this end. The call to cancel all conditions was signed by representatives of all political factions in the European Parliament, except for the Patriots of Europe and Europe of Sovereign Nations. As reported, earlier the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb, talking at the Globsec Forum in Prague, stated that any limitations on strikes on military targets on Russian soil are ridiculous.
What Role Does the U.S. Play in Limiting Ukraine’s Weapon Use?
The Ukrainian officials expressed the United States has restricted Ukraine to firing less than 100 kilometers, or approximately 62 miles, from the border. Both spoke on the condition of obscurity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the rule. U.S. officials declined to specify the limitation but expressed the Ukrainians’ assertion of fewer than 100 kilometers was incorrect.
“The U.S. has agreed to allow Ukraine to fire U.S.-provided weapons into Russia across where Russian forces are coming to attempt to take Ukrainian territory,” stated a Pentagon spokesman, Maj. Charlie Dietz.
