Some allies allow Ukraine to strike Russian territory with supplied weapons – Latvian foreign minister

Ukraine received Western weapons from some partners with permission to strike on Russian territory.

The newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Baiba Braže, said this in an interview with the European Pravda.

Currently, Ukraine is receiving weapons from Western allies with a public warning to refrain from using them outside of Ukraine.

However, according to Braže, this approach may shift and is already beginning to do so.

"There are already countries that have provided weapons to Ukraine without such restrictions," the head of the Latvian foreign ministry said.

To clarify, she answered that such countries really exist. Braže also explained that in these cases, the lifting of restrictions was not discussed publicly..

"Of course, not everything is announced publicly, and it's even better not to say it out loud until a certain time. The main thing is the impact on the battlefield. Because here there is a choice: whether to say something loudly or just do what is necessary," she said.

The minister expressed her belief that if there are objects from which Russia attacks Ukraine, then Ukraine has the right to retaliate if these objects are located on Russian territory. According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, such use of weapons is permitted by international law.

Braže also shared how the "drone coalition" co-led by her country plans to meet the needs of the Ukrainian military and expressed her belief that time is not in Russia's favor in the war.

For reference: What is known about the provision of long-range missiles to Ukraine from partner countries

ATACMS

The United States recently secretly transferred long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine. They were apparently included in the March aid package to Ukraine from the US for 300 million dollars.

It should be added that, according to the experts of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the ATACMS missiles provided to Ukraine by the United States can weaken Russian logistics and threaten Russian airfields and warehouses with strikes. However, for Ukraine, these strikes will have operational significance if they are reinforced by ground operations of the Defense Forces.

Taurus for Ukraine

It should be noted that on May 27, 2023, Ukraine addressed Germany with an official request to provide it with Taurus long-range cruise missiles.

However, German MPs did not support the opposition's suggestion that the government provide Taurus strategic missiles to Ukraine.

Furthermore, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reiterated his decision not to provide Ukraine with Taurus missiles during his meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in Berlin on April 24.

During an interview with the German publication ARD, Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine's intelligence, stated that German Taurus missiles could greatly improve the lives of Ukrainian citizens by effectively targeting enemy command centers and other crucial locations controlled by the occupiers.

Storm Shadow

Back in May, 2023, Great Britain supplied Ukraine with Storm Shadow cruise missiles, giving the soldiers of Ukraine's armed forces a new long-range strike potential ahead of the long-awaited counteroffensive of Ukrainian troops.

The Storm Shadow is a long-range, stealth-capable cruise missile jointly developed by the UK and France that is usually air-launched.

With a more than 250 km or 155 miles range, it is only slightly inferior to the 185-mile American Army's Surface-to-Surface System (ATACMS).

It is critical that Storm Shadow has sufficient range to strike deep into the temporarily Russian-occupied territory of Ukraine.