Western | Ukraine Feed

Vladimir Putin's threats of seeing the lift of restrictions on Ukraine’s use of Western weapons against targets inside Russia as the start of EU and NATO’s war against Russia will not change the EU's position on supporting Ukraine.

The Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine, Katarína Mathernová, echoes the opinion of EU High Representative Josep Borrell regarding the need to grant Ukraine permission to use long-range weapons, provided by Western partners, against legitimate targets inside Russia.

The lifting of restrictions on the use of Western weapons against the Russian military involved in the aggression against Ukraine will strengthen Ukrainian self-defense, save lives and reduce destruction in Ukraine.

Malcolm Nance, an American intelligence and counterterrorism expert, is convinced that after the war, the Ukrainian military will be able to train Western armies.

In order to destroy Russian Su-34 aircraft, Ukraine needs permission to strike deep into Russia with Western weapons, and such a decision could save many lives.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is likely aiming to shift Western focus towards possible peace negotiations as part of his overarching effort to undermine European support for Ukraine.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala has supported NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg's call for Ukraine to be allowed to use Western weapons to strike inside Russian territory.

The Russian industry produces artillery shells about three times faster than Ukraine's Western allies and about a quarter cheaper.

Partners should strengthen military support for Ukraine in view of the battlefield situation, but the question of use of Western weapons against targets on Russian territory is off the table at the moment.

Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries have a more negative impact on Russia than Western sanctions.

According to Financial Times estimates, the seven largest Western banks remaining in Russia paid more than EUR 800 million in taxes to Russia last year.

Rescuers in the Kirovohrad region have received a new batch of humanitarian aid from Western countries, including more than 20 generators of various capacities, motor pumps, and pumps.

The development of the defense industrial base may eventually allow Ukraine to maintain its defense against Russia and meet long-term national security needs, but now it needs Western air defense systems.

Russia has boosted its imports of an explosive compound critical to the production of artillery ammunition, including from companies based in the U.S. and other Western countries and allies, despite international sanctions meant to choke Moscow’s wartime production, trade data showed.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky named the speed of Western arms supplies as his biggest disappointment. He emphasizes that this is a waste of time and a loss of people.

Russia often timed its massive missile strikes on Ukraine to coincide with international aid discussions in order to deter further Western support for Ukraine.

Western aid to Ukraine is now very urgent, and Kyiv may have to delay the payment of salaries to civil servants and pensions to millions of its citizens if the EU and the U.S. fail to provide the pledged financial aid early next year.

U.S. intelligence reportedly assessed that Russian offensive operations in eastern Ukraine in fall 2023 and through the upcoming winter aim to weaken Western support for Ukraine instead of achieving any immediate operational objectives.

Ukraine’s Joint Forces Commander, Lieutenant General Serhii Nayev spoke about the advantages of Western air defense systems over the Soviet-style technologies and emphasized that Ukraine is strengthening its defense capabilities in every possible way.

In the issue of Russia sanctions, there is still a lot of work ahead as Moscow is adapting to existing restrictions, finding loopholes for further import of Western components for weapons production, including through third countries.