Ten Western nations have agreed to allow Ukraine to target military facilities in Russia using their supplied weaponry.
According to Moscow Times, this collective decision includes the support of France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.
France Leads the Charge
On May 28, French President Emmanuel Macron made a public statement endorsing this initiative.
"We believe Ukraine should be permitted to strike military targets within Russia, specifically those launching attacks against Ukrainian territory. However, it should not target other areas in Russia," Macron declared during a press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala echoed this sentiment, emphasizing Ukraine's right to defend itself beyond its borders.
"Ukraine is a nation under attack, defending its land and civilians. As such, it is fully entitled to utilize all means for its defense," he asserted.
Poland's Open Support
Poland has similarly lifted restrictions on the use of its provided arms. On May 29, Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk confirmed that Warsaw does not limit Kyiv's use of Polish weapons against Russian targets.
Earlier, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski advocated for allowing Ukraine to use Western arms for strikes within Russia.
Sweden's Legal Perspective
Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson, on May 26, underscored Ukraine's legal right to self-defense under international law, which includes military actions on enemy territory as long as they adhere to the laws of war.
"Ukraine faces an unprovoked and illegal war of aggression from Russia," Jonson noted, emphasizing Sweden's support for Ukraine's right to self-defense.
In February, Finland’s Ministry of Defense and its parliamentary defense committee confirmed there are no geographical restrictions on the use of Finnish weapons supplied to Ukraine.
"Ukraine must have the right to use this weaponry against military targets on Russian soil," stated Jukka Kopra, the committee's chairman.
The UK's stance, reiterated by former Prime Minister David Cameron, supports Ukraine's right to use British arms on Russian territory. Highlighting Russia's ongoing attacks on Ukraine, Cameron noted,
"It is entirely understandable for Ukraine to feel the need to ensure its defense."
Broader Western Consensus
Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur called for all Western countries to allow Ukraine to strike Russian targets with provided weapons, criticizing the "abnormality" of Ukraine fighting "with one hand tied behind its back" while Russia attacks from deep within its territory.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs, in a May 28 interview with CNN, stated there is no reason to prevent Ukraine from using Western arms on Russian soil. "We are not talking about cities or civilians; we are discussing legitimate military targets," he clarified.
