UPDATE - France could ‘consider’ letting Ukraine target Russia with missiles: Foreign minister

CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE; ADDS REMARKS BY FRENCH, BELGIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS

By Nur Asena Erturk

France on Monday said it could “consider” allowing Ukraine to hit Russian targets with missiles after outgoing US President Joe Biden on Sunday authorized Kyiv to use American long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) for "limited strikes" within Russian territory.

Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot recalled that President Emmanuel Macron made a similar remark in May regarding the French missiles.

"We openly said that this was an option that we would consider if it was to allow to strike targets from where Russians are currently aggressing Ukrainian territory," Barrot told reporters before attending the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels.

The US move follows repeated pleas by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and claims that North Korea is assisting Russia in its war efforts.​​​​​​​

US President-elect Donald Trump, who will take office in January, has long criticized the scale of US aid to Ukraine and has vowed to end the war that started in 2022.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, meanwhile, said the EU foreign ministers will discuss the impact of the US presidential election since Europe is “facing a completely different political landscape.”

“Europeans have to be ready to act without waiting to react to the US decisions,” he said in the wake of concerns across European capitals about the future of transatlantic relations after the election of Trump.

He also commented on the US decision to authorize Ukraine to use American missiles within Russian territory. “You know my position. I have been saying once and again that Ukraine should be able to use the arm we provided to them, in order to not only to stop the arrow but also to be able to hit the archers,” he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin “does not look like he is willing to negotiate,” the EU foreign policy chief said, calling on Europe for more unity.

He criticized the bloc for taking decisions slowly and lacking unity at times. "You cannot pretend to be a geopolitical power if you are taking days and weeks and months to reach agreements in order to act. … Take decisions quicker … Russia is not stopping the war because you are thinking about it,” Borrell said.

- Middle East conflict

The EU foreign policy chief also stressed the need to “put pressure on the Israeli government” and the Palestinian group Hamas to achieve peace in the Middle East.

Borrell recalled that efforts were made to “stop the war in Gaza,” including by the US, by “putting pressure to release the hostages and to stop the war.”

“This has not happened yet, and I do not see a hope for this to happen. That is why we have to put pressure on the Israeli government, also, obviously, on Hamas side. Both sides have to be put under pressure,” Borrell said.

He said he will present "a proposal in order to study which are the decisions that could be taken for the compliance with the Association Council (with Israel) from the point of view of human rights, and also which measures can be taken in order to be sure that we fulfill all commitments in order not to trade with the products produced on occupied territories according with the rules of the International Court of Justice."

Earlier this year, Borrell formally invited the Israeli foreign minister to an ad hoc EU-Israel Association Council meeting to discuss Israel’s compliance with its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

The EU-Israel Association Agreement, which entered into force in 2000, provides a legal and institutional framework for political dialogue and economic cooperation between the EU and Israel. Article 2 of the agreement says it is based on respect for human rights and democratic principles, defined as an “essential element” of the pact.

Last week, Borrell proposed to formally suspend political dialogue with Israel over its disregard for international law in the Gaza Strip, which needs approval from all 27 EU countries.

Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib, for her part, announced that during the meeting, she would "assess that we should convey an association council with Israel" about respecting human rights, noting that Israel is the bloc's "important economic" partner.