This appeal, emphasizing the legal basis for a country's self-defense under international law, was made during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday.
Sikorski argued that allowing Ukraine to use such weapons would enable it to preempt Russian attacks, such as the recent strike on a children's cancer hospital in Kyiv. Russia has been bombing civilian targets all over Ukraine with impunity since the beginning of the war.
Targeting aircraft which launch the cruise missiles and attacking the air bases from which they operate constitutes self-defense, which Sikorski said is not an escalation but a protective measure for vulnerable facilities, such as children's hospitals.
During a video conference on the same day, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba described the situation in his country as very grave.
In response to this, Sikorski also urged for tightened sanctions against Russia and proposed using Russian assets to fund a loan that would support Ukraine's operational needs and further weapons purchases.
Sikorski supported a Czech proposal that would require that all new Russian passports be biometric—a move aimed to hinder clandestine actions by the Russian government.
A significant portion of the ministers' meeting was devoted to discussing the venue for the upcoming Foreign Affairs Council, which Hungary is scheduled to host as part of its EU Council presidency this semester.
There have been informal reports suggesting a potential boycott of Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán due to his self-declared "peace mission" in Russia. The EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, might organize the late August meeting in Brussels instead of Budapest.
Sikorski disclosed that some EU member states believe the informal council should not be held in Budapest and suggested that Borrell call a formal meeting in Brussels.
The Polish foreign minister also proposed a compromise to show solidarity with Ukraine by holding the council meeting there, ideally in the western city of Lviv due to logistical reasons. However, this proposal faced opposition from Hungary, blocking a unanimous decision.
Sikorski conveyed that during the meeting, there were voices speaking of "Hungary's lack of solidarity with the position of the rest of the EU and with Ukraine itself."
When asked whether he would attend the meeting if it takes place in Budapest, Sikorski said he respected the Hungarian people, with whom Poland has been friends for centuries, but was concerned that his attendance might be misinterpreted as supporting the Hungarian government's stance on the war in Ukraine.
He affirmed that the position of the entire EU, except Hungary, was clear: "the aggressor should not benefit from its aggression."
(rt/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP
