EU Parliament Calls to Lift Limits on Ukraine’s Use of Western Weapons Against Russia
The European Parliament has called for Ukraine to be allowed to use Western weapons to strike military targets on Russian territory and has proposed quickly using frozen Russian assets to support Ukrainian military needs.
The Gaze reports this, referring to European Pravda.
In a resolution adopted on October 9 on responding to air threats from Russia, MEPs stressed the need to lift restrictions on the use of Western weapons systems transferred to Ukraine against military targets on Russian territory.
“The European Parliament... calls for the lifting of restrictions on the use of Western weapons systems transferred to Ukraine against military targets on Russian territory, as it is from these that attacks are being carried out on the Ukrainian population and critical civilian infrastructure,” the resolution states.
In addition, MEPs called on the EU to use frozen Russian assets as soon as possible to provide grant and loan assistance to Ukraine.
They noted that the reimbursement of these funds could be linked to future military reparations from Russia, which would be a legally justified and financially significant way to support the Ukrainian military, including countering drone threats.
At the same time, Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže emphasized that there is a consensus in Europe that frozen Russian assets should be used for the restoration and reconstruction of Ukraine.
“Everyone in Europe agrees that this money will not be returned to Russia. Whatever we call it, it must be used for the restoration and reconstruction of Ukraine. This is the most important thing we agree on. The rest is a matter of technique,” said the Latvian Foreign Minister.
She noted that the mechanism for using these funds should be developed by experts and bankers, who are already proposing possible solutions.
On the same day, the European Parliament approved a resolution calling on EU member states to shoot down Russian aircraft and drones that violate their airspace. MEPs stressed the need for coordinated and proportionate action in response to air threats.
The resolution states that Russia's sabotage and hybrid actions against the EU can be considered state sponsorship of terrorism, even if they do not reach the threshold of armed attack.
The European Parliament also called on the EU Council and the European Commission to strengthen the effectiveness of sanctions against Russia and extend them to countries that facilitate Russia's actions, in particular Belarus, Iran, and North Korea.
As The Gaze reported earlier, the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned that Russia is waging a “hybrid war” against Europe, pointing to a surge in drone incursions and other covert operations targeting EU member states.