The EU cannot give the greenlight to Ukraine to use weapons donated by member states for long-range strikes on Russia, because national governments want to make such decisions individually, the bloc’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has said.
Kiev claims that its inability to attack targets deep inside Russia with Western arms is preventing it from making progress on the battlefield. The issue was discussed on Thursday at an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, Borrel told journalists following the gathering.
”Member states want to keep it as a national decision, and each one will take the decision that they consider appropriate,” he said.
As many EU states are not supplying long-range weapons to Ukraine, their “practical participation” in formulating the policy is moot, Borrell said, noting that the arms-supplying nations want to direct Ukraine on how their hardware can be used, rather than delegating the decision to the EU.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba called for the range limits to be abolished, and complained that not all arms promised to his nation had been delivered, before participating in the EU meeting.
”Those who may try to blame Ukraine for not being successful enough should always remember that the success of Russia depends on one thing: on the preparedness of partners to make bold decisions,” he claimed, speaking to the media in English. “If they are not taken, don’t complain on Ukraine, complain on yourself”.
Borrell supported Kuleba’s call, saying there should be no restrictions on Ukrainian military action.
Earlier this week, Kiev lost the first F-16 fighter jet of the small number provided to it by European sponsors. The plane’s destruction was confirmed on Thursday evening, after reports emerged in the Western media. Kiev has not disclosed the circumstances of the incident, but a Ukrainian MP and some other sources have claimed it was shot down by friendly fire from a US-made Patriot missile battery.
Moscow has stated that no amount of foreign weapons can alter the outcome of the Ukraine conflict, as Russia’s goals are a vital matter of national security. Such shipments simply prolong the hostilities and raise the cost of the crisis, Russian officials have said.