STRASBOURG: The European Parliament on Thursday adopted a resolution urging EU member states to allow Ukraine to use Western-supplied weapons to strike military targets inside Russia, prompting a strong rebuke from Moscow.
During a plenary session in Strasbourg, EU lawmakers voted 425 in favor, 131 against, and 63 abstained from the resolution, which, while non-binding, sends a strong political message to EU governments. The text explicitly calls for the immediate lifting of restrictions on the use of Western weapon systems by Ukraine to target “legitimate military targets” on Russian soil.
The resolution argues that the current limitations “hinder Ukraine’s ability to fully exercise its right to self-defense under international public law” and leave the nation vulnerable to continued attacks on its population and infrastructure.
Ukrainian officials have been vocal about their need for greater flexibility in targeting Russian military installations, particularly air bases involved in the bombardment of Ukraine.
Moscow reacted strongly to the resolution. Vyacheslav Volodin, the president of Russia’s lower house Duma, condemned the EU’s decision, asserting that it could lead to a global conflict involving nuclear weapons.
He warned, “What the European Parliament is calling for leads to a world war using nuclear weapons,” and threatened that Russian missiles could strike Strasbourg within minutes if the resolution were implemented.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga expressed appreciation for the resolution, describing it as a demonstration of “decisiveness and leadership” from the European Parliament. He emphasized the importance of being able to strike Russian airfields and military targets that are critical to Moscow’s invasion strategy.
While Kyiv pushes for increased military support, EU member states remain divided on the issue. The United States and the United Kingdom are reportedly discussing the possibility of allowing Ukraine to strike deeper into Russian territory, but a consensus among EU countries has yet to be achieved.
Currently, US policy restricts Ukraine from attacking Russian targets beyond occupied regions of Ukraine and certain border areas related to combat operations.
President Vladimir Putin has previously warned that any authorization of long-range weapons for strikes inside Russia could place NATO in a state of war with Russia.
