EU top diplomat calls for lifting restrictions on weapons to Ukraine

BRUSSELS — The EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell today called for lifting restrictions on Ukraine using donated weapons to hit targets in Russia.
“Ukraine’s Kursk offensive is a severe blow to Russian President Putin’s narrative,” Borrell posted on X. “Lifting restrictions on the use of capabilities vs the Russian military involved in aggression against Ukraine, in accordance with international law, would have several important effects:
— Strengthen Ukrainian self defence by ending Russia’s sanctuary for its attacks and bombardments of Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
— Save lives and reduce destruction in Ukraine.
— Help advance peace efforts.”
Kyiv is pushing hard for donors to lift restrictions on using long-range weapons to hit targets inside Russia — a ban imposed by countries like the U.S. and the U.K. out of fear of crossing Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s red lines. However, Ukraine’s ongoing invasion of Russia undermines that argument.
“If our partners lifted all restrictions on long-range capabilities, Ukraine would not need to physically enter the Kursk region,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier this week.
Other allies like Denmark and Sweden have said Ukraine can use donated weapons as it sees fit.