THE Ukraine may use weapons it has procured from Finland to strike targets on Russian soil, top officials in Helsinki have said.
According to what was broadcast yesterday, Thursday, by the state network Yle, the Minister of Defense of Finland Anti Hakanen he emphasized that his country has not placed any kind of restriction on use of the weapons it provides to Kiev.
Hakanen added that restrictions have been imposed mainly by countries that have supplied Ukraine with long-range weapons systems.
“If necessary, Ukraine should also strike military targets on the Russian side. it is about a perfectly legitimate defensive battle of Ukraine. The UN Charter allows the striking of military targets across land borders,” said Jukka Kopra, chairman of the defense committee of the Finnish Parliament.
Finland’s position, expressed by two of its high-ranking officials, comes to in stark contrast to that of other western countriesincluding Germany, where Chancellor Scholz appears reluctant to send long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, fearing the weapons would be used to strike targets deep inside Russian soil, drawing Germany into a conflict of unknown consequence with the Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
“I urge Germany to think about it seriously. The German government knows that they would indeed be of great importance,” Hakanen said.
It is recalled that yesterday, Russian President Vladimir Putin, during his annual State of the Nation address, addressed NATO countries warning that they risk nuclear conflict if they send troops to Ukraine.
He added that Russia should strengthen its western military district after Finland and Sweden join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Source: Politico
2024-03-01 06:07:27