In a significant move, the European Parliament has passed a resolution urging all EU member states to allow Ukraine’s military to deploy long-range missiles against targets within Russia. The resolution, which was adopted on Thursday, is non-binding but carries symbolic weight and reflects the growing pressure on European governments to support Ukraine more forcefully.
The resolution states that EU countries should “immediately lift restrictions on the use of Western weapons systems delivered to Ukraine against legitimate military targets on Russian territory.” Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have argued that preventing Ukraine from using donated long-range missiles jeopardizes its ability to defend its cities and crucial infrastructure.
The resolution was approved by a decisive vote of 425 in favor, 131 against, and 63 abstentions, according to Politico. While Germany has so far refused to supply its Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, both France and Italy have provided their Scalp missiles. According to Politico, the United States is currently in talks with the United Kingdom about authorizing the use of their Storm Shadow missiles within Russian territory.
The resolution goes beyond the issue of weaponry and calls for EU countries to increase their financial support for Ukraine, expand humanitarian aid, and take more steps to protect Ukraine’s airspace.
One of the authors of the resolution, German Green Sergey Lagodinsky, stated, “Ukraine should have a right to use Western weapons against legitimate targets on Russian territory. Just like international law allows it to.”
This resolution represents a significant development in the European response to the conflict in Ukraine. It demonstrates a growing willingness among EU lawmakers to push for more decisive action, including the provision of more advanced weaponry, to support Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion. The resolution also underlines the increasingly complex legal and political challenges facing Western nations as they navigate the evolving conflict.
