Vaidere: Ukraine should be immediately allowed to use long-range weapons to attack military facilities on Russian territory

"Western countries should immediately allow Ukraine to use long-range weapons to attack military targets on Russian territory. The promised weapons and ammunition should also be delivered immediately. Russia only admits force and this will be an important step for Ukraine to win the war," stressed Inese Vaidere MEP, addressing her colleagues in plenary.

I. Vaidere: "Hundreds of thousands of people, including tens of thousands of civilians, have died since Russia started the war in Ukraine. The Russians are bombing schools, hospitals and behaving like medieval invaders. What else has to happen before the Ukrainians are allowed to attack military installations in Russia? Russian drones are already flying into our airspace - NATO airspace."

In a resolution to be approved today, MEPs demand that the Western partners immediately lift all restrictions on the use of supplied weapon systems for Ukraine's self-defence by striking targets on Russian territory. The European Parliament recalls that these unilateral and discriminatory restrictions hinder Ukraine's ability to effectively counter attacks on its cities and infrastructure, which add to the already huge civilian losses. MEPs also urge Member States to significantly increase their military aid as well as the capacity of their military industry.

I. Vaidere emphasised to her colleagues that the European Parliament had already called for a complete embargo on Russian energy resources at the beginning of the war. "It is absurd that several EU countries are still financing this war with energy imports!" stressed the MEP.

She also pointed out that Russia's frozen assets should be used to support Ukraine. "Russia must first pay for the damage caused by the war. That is why not only the interest on the Russian assets frozen should be used, and Hungary should stop behaving like a supporter of Russia, but the Russian assets frozen should be used for Ukraine, and the European Commission lawyers should find a legal basis for this sooner," the MEP stressed.

MEPs call for sanctions against Russia and Belarus to be maintained and expanded, increasing their effectiveness, including by addressing sanctions avoidance by EU-based companies, third parties and third countries.