Ukraine should be allowed to strike Russia with Western weapons - Norwegian Foreign Minister

Photo: Espen Barth Eide, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway (Getty Images)

Norway believes that Ukraine should be granted the right to attack Russian territory using Western weapons, states Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide in an interview with NRK.

The Foreign Minister emphasized that Ukraine, under international law, can attack Russian territory as part of its defense.

"Therefore, in principle, we believe that Ukraine can use weapons received from Western countries against military targets related to the war in Ukraine. Otherwise, we are imposing a restriction on Ukraine that complicates its victory," Eide added.

He noted that strikes on Russia are "completely normal" and that Ukraine "should not be forced to fight with one hand tied behind its back." According to the minister, the Ukrainian Armed Forces must conduct the war in the most effective way for them.

"If they (the Ukrainians) are being attacked by Russian troops from Russian territory because they have long-range weapons, there should be an ability to strike back," Eide stated.

What preceded

Recently, the topic of Ukraine's right to strike Russia has become increasingly relevant.

Several countries, including Sweden, France, and the United Kingdom, have stated that Ukrainian defenders should be allowed to use Western weapons to strike Russia.

For more details on who supports strikes on Russian territory, read the RBC-Ukraine material.