Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski urged EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday to lift restrictions imposed by their countries on Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons. He stressed that self-defence is entirely legal.
Sikorski, who participated in a meeting of EU justice ministers in Brussels on Monday, suggested that Ukraine could prevent Russian attacks, such as the recent shelling of a children’s oncology hospital in Kyiv, by targeting planes firing cruise missiles and attacking the airports from which they take off.
During a video conference with the Polish Foreign Minister on Monday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba acknowledged that the situation in Ukraine was very difficult. Sikorski emphasised that defending children’s oncology hospitals is not escalation and would be considered legitimate self-defence under international law.
Sikorski advocated for harsher sanctions against Russia and proposed that Russian assets could be utilised by the end of the year to provide a loan for Ukraine to function and purchase weapons. He also supported the Czech proposal that new Russian passports should be biometric. During the initial part of the EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on Monday, Sikorski mentioned that most of the time was devoted to discussing whether the formal or informal Foreign Affairs Council should be held during Hungary’s presidency of the EU Council for the next six months. Unofficial reports suggest that EU HRVP Josep Borrell might organise the meeting in Brussels at the end of August.
“I proposed a compromise solution,” said Sikorski. “To meet (…) in Ukraine. It would be a sign of our solidarity with that country.” But Hungary blocked it.
