Q. High Representative, you said that some countries dropped their vetoes in terms of the use of equipment they shipped to Ukraine. I am not going to ask you which countries, you will not respond to me on that. Can you at least say the number? How many? Just to give us a sense of where we are going. Secondly, pretty harsh words today from the Kremlin. Putin said that Stoltenberg – he remembered when Stoltenberg was not deranged. He implied that his remarks in these days were crazy. You said similar things, so be aware. What I am going to ask to you is: do you think that this is hitting the spot? Is Russia afraid that these weapons could be used against their military positions, and is this a real threat for them? Do you think that this is the reason why they are getting worried?
How many countries [have] already agreed [that] the arms they provide to Ukraine could [to] be used targeting objectives in Russian territories?
One and a half? Two? To tell the truth, I could not say that. I could not say the number. Some explicitly said: “I am going to lift this limitation.” Others have said that but not in such a clear way. Others said, “well, yes but let me think about it.” So, I cannot say; “this is the number that agree or not.” In any case, the number will change. Look, one week ago or one month ago, people did not want to call for the Association Council with Israel. Yesterday, they agreed. So, events change, and people change.
Certainly, Russia considers that an important step. You can imagine they can attack Ukraine from [their] territory, considering that [there] could not be an attack to the installations and form the places from where they attack. Certainly, it is an advantage. It is a certain ‘sanctuarisation’. I am attacking you, but you cannot attack me. At least not to the places from [which] I am attacking you.
It is understandable the Ukrainians would like to be able to do that. It is quite logical. Then it comes all considerations about the escalation. All that you read every day in the newspapers – you read, and you write in the newspapers – I understand these concerns. But in life you have to choose. If you want to provide Ukraine with a stronger capacity, you have to provide them with the arms that could be used to protect themselves from the attacks they are suffering from. If you consider that the risk of escalation is greater than the advantages for the war, you will take another position.
Member States have different approaches. I know some that are strongly opposed to it, and others who are definitely in favour. I cannot tell you [if it] is going to be the majority, but in any case it is not [for] the European Union. Nobody can prevent a Member State [of providing] arms to Ukraine and letting the Ukrainians use these arms to target military objectives inside the Russian territory. We cannot prevent them from doing [it]. The same way that we cannot oblige them to do it. No country has to be afraid that they will be obliged to do something that they do not want to do.
Foreign Affairs Council (Defence): Press remarks by High Representative Josep Borrell after the meeting | EEAS
