This week, several European leaders pledged to deliver one million drones, F-16 fighter jets, and thousands of infantry projectiles to Ukraine. so that it can continue resisting the onslaught of the Russian armywhich has been achieving strategic victories on the battlefield.
(Read here: The reasons that explain why Russia is taking back the initiative during the war in Ukraine)
The time has come to consider whether it would be right to lift some of the restrictions that have been imposed
Until now, This issue has been a red line that Westerners have not wanted to crosssince the Kremlin sees it as a direct involvement of the allies in the conflict.
Despite warnings from Moscow, several European governments and NATO partners are beginning to change their policy.
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This is the case, for example, of United Kingdom, Finland, Poland, France, Canada, among others. Some of them have already given their approval, others are being favorable in that direction.
What do European leaders say and why do they now consider it critical to give the green light to Ukraine?
“The time has come to consider whether it would not be right to lift some of the restrictions that have been imposed,” Stoltenberg told lawmakers in Bulgaria’s capital. “It is clear that Ukraine has the right to defend itself (…). Self-defense includes the right to also attack legitimate military targets inside Russia,” Stoltenberg added.
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However, Stoltenberg and Borrell stressed that this weaponry can only be used to attack legitimate targets, such as military positions. Both make it clear that it should be used against civilians or actors not involved in the conflict.
This change in discourse is due to the fact that Russia has been achieving strategic conquests on the battle front. This, added to the lack of reservists from Ukraine, the slow arrival of new supplies and Moscow’s air superiority, explain the bad times that kyiv’s troops are experiencing. With this panorama, Europeans and NATO members want at all costs to prevent the Ukrainian government from falling.
Which countries have already given approval for Ukraine to use its weapons and who is opposed?
For her part, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of CanadaMélanie Joly also confirmed that kyiv can use weapons for these purposes. The Canadian minister reasoned that “Russia has no red lines.” “That’s why we need to make sure that with respect to the defense of Ukraine, that we help them and that we stand beside them,” she added.
These statements come the day after the president of FranceEmmanuel Macron assured that the Ukrainians should be authorized to neutralize Russian bases from which missiles are launched at them, although he specified that we should not allow them to hit civilian installations and other military targets.
However, the biggest opponent on this issue is USA, the ally that has given the most money to Ukraine during the Russian invasion. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby recalled that Washington does not advise kyiv to carry out attacks inside Russia with American weapons.
However, an article revealed a few days ago by The New York Times He assured that some senior officials in Joe Biden’s administration would be reconsidering this issue.
For his part, the prime minister of Belgium, Alexander De Croo said this Tuesday that the F-16 fighter jets that he will deliver to Ukraine, according to the agreement he signed today with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, can only be used on Ukrainian territory and not to directly attack Russia.
How can Russia react?
Putin threatened Europe this Tuesday with “serious consequences” if the NATO countries give the green light to the use of weapons against targets in their territory.
“These representatives of the NATO countries, especially in Europe, especially in small countries, must be aware of what they are playing with. They must remember that, as a rule, these are states with small but densely populated territories,” he said. Putin at a press conference at the end of his visit to Uzbekistan.
“This constant escalation can have serious consequences and if these serious consequences are felt in Europe, how will the United States react?” said Putin, who alluded to nuclear parity between the two superpowers.
Alluding to the statements of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg about the need to allow Kiev to attack Russia with Western weapons, Putin assured that he cannot fail to know that high-precision long-range weapons cannot be launched without the use of Western spy satellites.
“He was Prime Minister of Norway (Stoltenberg). We met and resolved complicated issues about the Barents Sea and others. In general we were able to reach agreements. So, I was sure that he did not suffer from dementia,” he said.
These representatives of NATO countries, especially in Europe, especially in small countries, must be aware of what they are playing with. They must remember that, as a general rule, these are States with small but densely populated territories.
He also highlighted that objectives can also be entered automatically in the case of American ATACMS based on satellite data.
“Who does this? It is done by those who produce and those who supposedly supply Ukraine with these offensive systems. This can and does happen without the participation of Ukrainian soldiers,” he said.
*With Efe
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