“The Ukrainians need specific things. The Russians are targeting them from long distances, so they should be able to reach the same distance, the same range,” Borrell said after meeting Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Stockholm.
Borrell’s remarks come two days after London announced it would supply Kiev with long-range “Storm Shadow” missiles, becoming the first Western allies to supply such weaponry to Ukraine.
Russia viewed the move as “extremely hostile”, especially as the range of these missiles could reach 500 km, warning that it could lead to a “dangerous escalation”.
For his part, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister confirmed that “the main topics of discussion with European Union foreign ministers today will be long-range artillery munitions and short-term accession negotiations. term”.
“Instead of wondering when the counterattack will start, everyone should ask themselves if they have done enough for the Ukrainian counterattack to start and succeed,” he added.
Borrell commented that Kuliba “explained the situation on the ground to us. ‘artillery shells per day’, believing that this ‘gives an idea of the intensity of the fighting.’
He added: “We are supplying (to Ukraine) arms and ammunition, but we need to speed up deliveries and reconfigure our stocks” of this equipment.
And he warned that “if we do not surrender, Ukraine will not be able to defend itself… The existence of an independent and sovereign country is at stake because of this war waged by Russia”.
“We did not discuss the issue (of Ukraine joining the European Union) at the meeting,” Borrell told AFP.
He stressed that the Ukrainian government’s lack of control over its entire territory is not a reason to delay Kiev’s joining the continental bloc.
He added that “Cyprus was accepted as a member state without extending its control over its entire territory, and the question remains open”, referring to the occupation by Turkish forces of the northern part of the middle island.
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