Ukraine: Let's strike against Russian airfields

Let Ukraine be freer to use its weapons against Russian targets, urges EU's Foreign Minister Josep Borrell. And please hurry up with the deliveries, Ukraine welcomes.

» Updated: September 01 2024

» Published: August 29 2024

Ukraine: Let's strike against Russian airfields
Photo: Virginia Mayo/AP/TT

Share this article

The Foreign Minister Borrell and the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba arrived together with a joint message at Thursday's informal EU Foreign Ministers' meeting in Brussels.

We must lift the restrictions on the use of weapons against Russian military targets, in accordance with international law. The weapons offered to Ukraine must be fully usable – otherwise, the weapons are meaningless, said Borrell on his way in.

We are primarily talking about airfields used by Russia for their strategic bombers. If we are allowed to strike, we will significantly reduce Russia's capacity to destroy our infrastructure, added Kuleba.

Hurry up!

Both before and during the meeting, the Ukrainian also pressed for EU countries to deliver what they had promised in terms of weapons more quickly.

The message from Kuleba was crystal clear: our support makes a difference, but all delays are very costly, said Borrell at his press conference afterwards.

He also warned about what Russia wants to achieve before winter with its attacks on the Ukrainian power sector.

Russia wants to plunge all of Ukraine into darkness and cold.

Sweden is one of the countries that have not imposed any restrictions on their weapons deliveries to Ukraine. Foreign Minister Tobias Billström (The Moderate Party) agrees, however, that the world should speed up a bit more.

The burden is on us to ensure that we are quick on our feet when it comes to delivering what we have actually decided on, says Billström in Brussels.

Turkey in attendance

Besides Kuleba, the EU foreign ministers also met their Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan on Thursday, as Turkey was invited to an EU meeting for the first time in five years.

Not least, the long-standing dispute between the EU and Turkey over Cyprus was discussed.

It was good that he came. Let's hope that this invitation can be a first step towards a dialogue that can resolve the problems, especially the Cyprus issue, says Borrell.

Thursday's informal foreign ministers' meeting in the EU was originally supposed to have been held in Hungary, which is the autumn's presidency country in the EU Council of Ministers.

The meeting has, however, been moved from Budapest to Brussels as a mark of protest against Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's so-called "peace trips" to Moscow and Beijing and statements from the Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto that the rest of the EU is "driving on" the war in Ukraine.

Sweden and many other EU countries have also decided not to send ministers to the informal meetings held in Hungary during the summer – and onwards.

The line we are taking is that we do not participate, except at the official level, says Foreign Minister Tobias Billström.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Car Crashes into Russian Consulate Gate in Sydney
1 MIN READ

Car Crashes into Russian Consulate Gate in Sydney

Election Material Attacked on Cuyuní River in Guyana
1 MIN READ

Election Material Attacked on Cuyuní River in Guyana

Zelensky Confirms Arrest After Murder of Former Ukrainian Speaker
1 MIN READ

Zelensky Confirms Arrest After Murder of Former Ukrainian Speaker

Two Children Killed in 6.0 Magnitude Afghanistan Earthquake
1 MIN READ

Two Children Killed in 6.0 Magnitude Afghanistan Earthquake

Paris Hosts High-Level Meeting on Ukraine Security Support
1 MIN READ

Paris Hosts High-Level Meeting on Ukraine Security Support

Thai Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol Recovering After Blood Infection
1 MIN READ

Thai Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol Recovering After Blood Infection

Houthi Rebels Raid UN Offices in Yemen's Capital Sanaa
2 MIN READ

Houthi Rebels Raid UN Offices in Yemen's Capital Sanaa

French Minister Criticizes US Over Greenland Sale Proposal
1 MIN READ

French Minister Criticizes US Over Greenland Sale Proposal

Pope Leo XIV Calls for End to Global "Pandemic of Weapons"
1 MIN READ

Pope Leo XIV Calls for End to Global "Pandemic of Weapons"

Egypt Train Derailment: Over 90 Injured, 3 Dead
1 MIN READ

Egypt Train Derailment: Over 90 Injured, 3 Dead

Norway to Buy British Frigates in Historic Defense Deal
1 MIN READ

Norway to Buy British Frigates in Historic Defense Deal

Wife Urges Suspected Police Killer to Surrender in Australia Manhunt
2 MIN READ

Wife Urges Suspected Police Killer to Surrender in Australia Manhunt

Immigration Raid at Washington Wildfire Site Leads to Firefighter Arrests
1 MIN READ

Immigration Raid at Washington Wildfire Site Leads to Firefighter Arrests

Swedish Search Dog Joins Efforts in Norway Landslide Rescue
2 MIN READ

Swedish Search Dog Joins Efforts in Norway Landslide Rescue

Netanyahu Confirms Start of Israel's Plan to Defeat Hamas
2 MIN READ

Netanyahu Confirms Start of Israel's Plan to Defeat Hamas

Eight Kidnapped in Haiti Released After Nearly Four Weeks
1 MIN READ

Eight Kidnapped in Haiti Released After Nearly Four Weeks

Israeli Airstrikes Target Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon
1 MIN READ

Israeli Airstrikes Target Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon

US Proposes Stricter Visa Rules for International Students
1 MIN READ

US Proposes Stricter Visa Rules for International Students

Israel Confirms Death of Hamas Spokesperson Abu Obeida in Gaza Attack
1 MIN READ

Israel Confirms Death of Hamas Spokesperson Abu Obeida in Gaza Attack

Greta Thunberg Joins Flotilla to Gaza Strip to Challenge Blockade
2 MIN READ

Greta Thunberg Joins Flotilla to Gaza Strip to Challenge Blockade