Image Credit: Anadolu Agency
Josep Borrell, the EU’s chief diplomat, urged the removal of restrictions on Ukraine’s use of Western-supplied weaponry on Russian territory during a statement on August 21. Borrell’s appeal followed a significant Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Kursk region, which he described as a considerable setback to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war narrative.
Borrell’s call came in response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent plea for expanded military support. Zelensky had requested that partner nations permit the use of long-range weapons to target Russian positions within Russian borders. This request underscores Ukraine’s strategy to counteract Russian aggression effectively and to deter strikes from Russian-held positions.
On media platform X, Borrell emphasized that the offensive in Kursk had dealt a severe blow to Putin’s narrative and called for lifting the constraints on the use of Western weaponry against Russian military forces. He argued that easing these restrictions would enhance Ukraine’s self-defense capabilities by reducing Russia’s advantage of striking from secure locations. Additionally, Borrell suggested that such a move would help save lives and foster peace negotiations.
This issue is scheduled for discussion at upcoming bilateral meetings of EU foreign and defense ministers in Brussels on August 29 and 30. The meetings will include the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmitry Kuleba, who has been actively engaging with European counterparts to secure additional military support.
Borrell’s position highlights the evolving nature of international support for Ukraine and reflects a broader shift towards more direct military assistance in response to the ongoing conflict with Russia.