Minister of Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen reported that Finland did not restrict Ukraine from striking Russian territory with Finnish weapons.
This is what Elina Valtonen told Uusi Suomi, Babel reports.
According to the foreign minister, a country waging a defensive war can attack military targets on the territory of the attacking country if it is necessary for self-defense.
“Finland has not set any specific limits on its financial aid to Ukraine, but assumes that the aid will be used in accordance with international law”, — she said.
Valtonen stated that Russia is waging an illegal war of aggression in Ukraine, therefore Ukraine has the right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
“This also includes attacks on military targets on the territory of the aggressor country, which are necessary for self-defense”, — the Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasized.
The issue became the subject of public debate after NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called on the alliance’s member states to consider whether Ukraine could be given permission to attack Russia with Western weapons.
In turn, a number of European countries introduced restrictions on military support, according to which weapons can be used only on the territory of Ukraine.
Who allowed Ukraine to strike Russian targets with Western weapons?
On May 3, the head of the British Foreign Ministry, David Cameron, stated that the Armed Forces have the right to strike Russian targets with weapons provided by London.
Later, Sweden and Poland made similar statements. The Minister of Defense of the Netherlands and the President of France also spoke in favor of easing restrictions for the Armed Forces.
Also, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly called on the governments of the Alliance countries to allow Ukraine to strike military targets on the territory of Russia with Western weapons.
