The NATO Parliamentary Assembly has called on their governments to allow Ukraine to use Western weapons against Russia.
This was announced by the head of the Verkhovna Rada's permanent delegation to the NATO PA, Yehor Chernyev, and is stated in the text of the declaration adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly.
According to Chernyev, it is about lifting certain restrictions on hitting legitimate targets deep inside Russia.
"We managed to push through this decision at the last minute, as the original version of the declaration did not contain this clause," he wrote on Facebook.
He also added that one of the decisive factors was the support of this initiative by the US delegation led by Mike Turner and Gerald Connolly.
"Together we have done it. Now parliamentarians will have legal grounds to put even more pressure on their governments to ensure that the decisions of the NATO PA are implemented," Chernyev added.
According to the declaration, NATO Allies should accelerate the delivery of crucial weapons that Ukraine needs to defeat Russia's war of aggression and should lift restrictions that prohibit their use against military targets in Russia.
At the plenary session, which was attended by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the declaration was approved by a majority of more than 200 lawmakers from all 32 Allies. It is noted that the Alliance Secretary General agreed with the need to lift restrictions on the use of weapons.
"Ukraine needs to be provided with everything it needs as soon as possible and for as long as it takes to win," the document, adopted by the NATO Parliamentary Assembly at the end of the spring session, says.
The declaration calls on Allied governments to "support Ukraine in its international right to defend itself by lifting some restrictions on the use of weapons provided by NATO Allies to strike legitimate targets in Russia".
Michal Szczerba, President of the NATO PA, stressed the importance of rapid and unimpeded delivery of air defence systems and other vital weapons to Ukraine.
"They need our help. Not in two years. Not in two months. Not even in two weeks. They need it now. We need to speed up and become more active. Give Ukraine everything it needs," Szczerba said.
According to him, Ukraine can only defend itself if it can attack Russian supply lines and Russian bases.
"It's time to recognise this reality and let Ukraine do what it has to do," he added, noting that NATO would be significantly weakened if it helped with "half measures".
The Sofia Session granted candidate status to the Ukrainian delegation and called on NATO governments to "prepare a long-term strategy and proactive measures for a modern deterrent to Russia to confront the Russian threat in all its dimensions, to actively defend democracy and the rules-based international order... and to challenge Russia's aggressive political, military and hybrid activities".