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Dmytro Kuleba urged EU countries to take a “brave decision” to authorize Ukraine to launch an attack deep into Russian territory using Western-supplied weapons.
Western allies, including the 27-member European Union, must immediately authorize Ukraine to use supplied weapons to strike “in depth” against Russia and maintain momentum over the Kursk invasion, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Thursday as he attended a meeting with EU counterparts in Brussels.
“The public message is that in principle no one is against a deep strike in Russia, but no real steps are taken to achieve this and we want to avoid this,” Kuleba told reporters after arriving.
“What really matters is the right timing. That’s what’s at stake today.”
Some European Union countries, especially Germany, one of Ukraine’s largest arms suppliers, and the United States have blocked Ukraine from using long-range missiles and other materiel against targets inside Russia.
The ground operation in Russia’s southern Kursk region has been described as a major event in the war in Ukraine. It is the first time since World War II that Russian territory has been occupied by foreign troops.
The Kremlin responded angrily with a massive drone and missile attack on Ukrainian cities, killing dozens of civilians and destroying critical infrastructure. The disaster heightened long-standing fears in Brussels that Moscow hopes to trigger a humanitarian crisis this winter and unleash a new wave of refugees in Europe.
Kuleba promises Ukraine will only attack legitimate targets
Speaking about the need to protect “our cities” and “our children”, Kuleba said the donated weapons could be used to attack “legitimate military targets” in Russia, such as airfields used by Russian forces to fire artillery shells into Ukraine.
“If we receive authorization to attack, we will significantly degrade Russia’s ability to inflict damage on our critical infrastructure and improve the condition of our ground forces,” Kuleba said. “So those who seek to blame Ukraine for not being successful enough must always remember that Russia’s success depends on one thing: whether its partners are ready to make bold decisions.”
“If decisions are taken, Ukraine will succeed on the ground. If they are not taken, then do not complain about Ukraine, complain about yourself,” he added.
The issue of lifting arms restrictions has been on the EU negotiating table for months, raised by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his visit to Brussels in May. The request was accepted by some member states, such as the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Poland and the Baltic states, but consensus was not universal.
Italy refused to give the green light, while Germany refused to provide the Taurus cruise missiles with a range of up to 500 kilometers that Kiev had requested.
“Talking is talking”
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stood with Kuleba, expressing his full support and saying restrictions on Western arms supplies must be lifted to allow for the right to self-defence in line with international law.
“It is clear that Russia intends to completely destroy Ukraine’s electricity system in order to plunge Ukraine into darkness and cold in the coming winter,” Borrell said on Thursday. “Russia wants to bomb a European country until it surrenders.”
However, the issue first arises in Washington, where the Joe Biden administration continues to restrict long-range ballistic missiles for fear of escalating the conflict. Another major donor, Britain, is also reluctant as it is awaiting approval from the United States.
“We have had a very open dialogue with the United Kingdom and the United States has asked them not to squander the momentum that our soldiers and civilians have earned with their blood and sacrifice,” Kuleba said in Brussels.
“Europe’s long-term security begins with courageous short-term decisions in Ukraine.”
During the foreign ministers’ meeting, Ukraine’s envoy will also address the lag between the announcement of military supplies and the “effective delivery” of aid. The delay is “too long” and makes war planning difficult. “This bothers us a lot,” Kuleba said.
EU institutions and member states have pledged 39 billion euros in military support to Ukraine since the massive invasion began, but it is unclear how much of that money has reached the war-torn country. Last month, Brussels transferred 1.5 billion euros directly to Kiev through an innovative program based on Russian fixed assets.
“It’s easy to promise, but a little bit difficult to deliver,” Borrell admitted.
Gabriel Landsbergis of Lithuania warned that North Korea and Iran were aligned in providing Moscow with supplies that would allow the invasion to go ahead and urged EU countries to take a step forward.
“We have to ask ourselves: Are we not part of this problem ourselves?” he lamented, bemoaning the lack of Patriot systems, which Ukraine desperately needs to repel Russian bombings. “Are we really taking this seriously?
Kuleba said the country needs at least 25 Patriot air defense systems and called on countries that have pledged to provide them to deliver them quickly.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that if weapons supplied by Western countries hit Russian targets, those countries “will pay a due price.”
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