Kyiv says 'no arguments' against partners downing Russian missiles above Ukraine from their own territory

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Tuesday there are "no arguments" against Kyiv’s partners downing Russian missiles flying above Ukraine from their respective territories.

“There is no 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 such actions would be an escalation are manipulative,” Kuleba said at a news conference with visiting German counterpart Annalena Baerbock in Kyiv.

Kuleba said Kyiv asks its partners to consider such a possibility or to alternatively provide it with the necessary air defense systems and combat aircraft with appropriate technical capabilities.

“To take a position in which we will not transfer air defense and will not support the shooting down of Russian missiles from our territory over the territory of Ukraine is the position of appeasement of the aggressor,” he said.

Kuleba argued that Ukraine has already heard the argument about needing to avoid escalation with Russia many times, but Russia has been the only party engaged in escalation since the start of the conflict more than two years ago.

Baerbock, who arrived Monday in Kyiv, said Ukraine’s partners have already collected almost €1 billion ($1.1 billion) to strengthen the country’s air defense system, which she described as an absolute priority.

Indicating that Germany will support Ukraine for as long as necessary, Baerbock urged other Ukrainian partners to provide additional air defense systems to Kyiv to protect not only large cities but also infrastructure.

Baerbock went on to say that it is “absolutely self-evident” that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is the country’s “legal and legitimate president."

As part of her visit, the German foreign minister was also received by Zelenskyy, during which the president spoke about the situation on the front line and Ukraine’s key defense needs.

“We discussed the joint initiative of German foreign and defense ministers to find additional Patriot and other air defense systems for Ukraine. I thank Germany for assisting us in defending our independence, European way of life, and people from Russian terror,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.​​​​​​​