High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell has stated that Ukraine's partners should lift restrictions on the use of the weapons supplied by them against military targets on the territory of Russia.

He said this during a joint doorstep with Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba ahead of an informal meeting of the EU Foreign Ministers in Brussels on Thursday.

"Air defense systems were critical before the summer. […] And also, I am sure you will explain us [Borrell addressed Kuleba] why we need to lift restrictions on the use of weaponry against Russia's military targets in accordance with international law. During the summer, I've been issuing the statements supporting this decision. The weaponry that we are providing to Ukraine has to have full views. And the restrictions have to be lift in order for the Ukrainians to be able to target the places where Russia is bombing Ukraine. […] Ukraine is asking for this and today having Minister Kuleba with us, there will be an important moment to make everybody understand why," Borrell said.

He underlined that "the Ukrainians have shown a lot of audacity launching, attacks inside the Russian territory."

"This operation in Kursk has done a blow on Putin's narrative about this war. […] But at the same time Russia continues attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure. On Monday, August 26, Russia launched an air attack with more than 300 missiles and drones against Ukrainian cities, looking for critical energy infrastructure. It's clear that Russia wants to destroy completely the electricity system of Ukraine in order to put Ukraine into the dark and cold for the next winter," the EU High Representative said.

He also recalled that the EU has started using the revenues from the windfall profits from frozen Russian assets, which have already been sent to Ukraine.

"With this money more military equipment will be provided to Ukraine. The important thing is that for the first time we are financing directly the Ukrainian industry. We are providing financing for the Ukrainians to make their own industrial capacity to work. 1.4 billions have already been sent," Borrell said.

He also noted that the EU has to be more proactive in the diplomatic field and promote the Peace Plan of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"The first item of our very busy meeting today will be about Ukraine military support, diplomatic approach, lifting restrictions, and increasing our support of these brave people who have surprised the world by launching an audacious attack in Russia, showing that Putin's narrative was completely false," the High Representative said.

Minister Kuleba, for his part, noted that he came with a very simple message – "long-term security for Europe starts with short-term bold decisions for Ukraine."

"We have proven that we can defeat Russia. We have proven that once again, against all odds, against everyone who was saying that there is a stalemate, Ukraine cannot win, that Russia will eventually succeed, and therefore strategy has to be reconsidered. These arguments were defeated as aptly as the Russian forces in the Kursk region," he said.

Kuleba stressed that partners should make bold decisions and permit Ukraine to strike the legitimate military targets in the depth of Russia.

"And here we are mainly talking about airfields which are used by Russia to launch their bombers, strategic bombers and tactical bombers to attack Ukrainian forces and to attack Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. If we are supplied with sufficient amount of missiles, if we are allowed to strike, we will significantly decrease the capacity of Russia to inflict damage on our critical infrastructure, and we will improve the situation for our forces on the ground. So, those who may try to blame Ukraine for not being successful enough should always remember that the success of Russia depends on one thing – on the preparedness of partners to make bold decisions. If decisions are taken, Ukraine is successful on the ground. If they are not taken, then do not complain on Ukraine, complain on yourself," he said.

The minister also announced his intention to raise an issue of a handicap between the announcement of military assistance and the actual delivery of the military assistance.

"Sometimes these gaps are excessively long. You cannot do military planning, you cannot calculate what you can count on and what you cannot count on the battlefield. These things after two and half years of the war should work as a Swiss watch, without any delays, in the most in the most efficient way. We have done our part of the work. We have significantly ramped up production of weapons and munition in Ukraine. And we appreciate the assistance that is coming, but we have now to step up one another way of assistance, and Josep mentioned it, which is the investment in the Ukrainian industrial defence base. The cheapest and the most efficient way to help to provide Ukraine with ammunition and weapons is to invest in the production of these items in Ukraine," Kuleba said.

The Ukrainian side will also raise the issue of air defense, he said.

"Since April, when we made a plea for the delivery of more Patriot systems, good progress has been made and announcements were made, but again some Patriot systems were announced and not delivered yet. And we are, as you are, entering the school year. We have to protect our cities. We have to protect our children. So, I will urge all partners who have made their pledges to finally deliver these systems," the minister said.

Kuleba said he would also discuss with partners "other commitments and other deliveries that can be made, because Russia, and you see you've seen it on Monday, Russia will not stop its massive missile attacks against Ukraine" as well as inform member states of the progress recently made on the EU accession track, recalling that Ukraine recently ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.