Ukraine can strike Russia using weapons supplied by Finland, states Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Elina Valtonen.
According to her, a country engaged in a defensive war can strike military targets on the aggressor's territory if it is necessary for self-defense.
"Finland does not impose any specific restrictions on material assistance to Ukraine but assumes it will be used in accordance with international law. Russia is waging an illegal aggressive war in Ukraine, and Ukraine has the right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter. This includes strikes on military targets on the aggressor's territory that are necessary for self-defense," Valtonen stated.
Strikes on Russian territory
In recent weeks, the topic of Ukraine using Western weapons to strike Russian military targets on Russian territory has been actively discussed. There has been a shift in the position of European Union countries. Previously, they did not support the idea of such strikes, but now the rhetoric is changing.
For instance, the head of the EU's foreign policy department, Josep Borrell, stated the necessity of granting Ukraine the right to strike Russia with Western weapons. He emphasized that such strikes would be "lawful and proportionate" if directed at military targets.
This position is not unanimous among all EU countries. Some countries, such as Hungary, still oppose such strikes.