Nothing prevents partners from shooting down missiles over Ukraine - FM Kuleba

He said this at a press conference with his German colleague Annalena Baerbock, Radio Liberty reports.

"There is not a single legal, security or moral argument that stands in the way of our partners shooting down Russian missiles over the territory of Ukraine from their territory. Those who say that such actions would be an escalation are manipulating," Kuleba said.

He also called on the partners to consider the possibility of shooting down Russian missiles over Ukraine from their territories.

"We are really asking our partners to consider the possibility of intercepting Russian missiles - not Russian planes with Russian pilots on board, but pieces of iron that carry death from Russia to Ukraine - from the territory of our partner countries. There is an alternative solution: if you don't want to do this, just provide us with all the means necessary for this, we will deploy them on the territory of Ukraine and intercept these missiles ourselves. These are air defense systems and combat aircraft with the appropriate technical capabilities," the minister suggested.

The Ukrainian diplomat noted that the situation when Kyiv receives neither proper air defense equipment nor assistance in thwarting attacks is a "position of appeasement of the aggressor." At the same time, he expressed his position that Western countries should allow his country to use the weapons they provide to hit military targets in Russia.

"Ukraine should be able to hit military targets on the territory of Russia... If someone thinks that we should be in a weak position, sitting and waiting for death to come for us, then you will not wait for our death or our weakness. And it is better to be on the side of Ukraine, because the more military targets we can destroy on the territory of Russia, the sooner this war on the territory of Ukraine will end," Kuleba said.

The Foreign Minister also wrote about the meeting with Baerbock on X, noting that the conversation with the German Foreign Minister was about speeding up the decision of third countries to provide additional Patriot systems to Ukraine.

“Every Russian missile flying from Russia to Ukraine is also flying in the direction of the European Union. Everyone in Europe must understand that either Russia is stopped in Ukraine or its missiles will fly further sooner or later. This can be avoided if Ukraine is given everything it requires to defeat Russian aggression. I thank our German partners for understanding this,” Kuleba wrote.

• On May 16, the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe stated that the United States should allow Ukraine to strike military targets in Russia's border regions.