Kuleba urges West not to school Ukraine on strike tactics

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, said this in an interview with the "Bericht aus Berlin" show on ARD, Ukrinform reports.

When asked by the moderator whether Ukraine was behind the recent drone attacks on Russian military bases, Kuleba did not answer directly: "As the Minister of Foreign Affairs, I cannot comment on what is happening on the territory of Russia," the diplomat said. At the same time, he recalled that it is from these airfields that bombers take off, firing missiles at the energy system of Ukraine and killing Ukrainians.

"There is no need school Ukraine on morality," Kuleba said, responding to those in the West, including in the United States, who criticize possible Ukrainian strikes targeting Russian territory.

"I don't understand what it means when they say Ukraine is playing with fire." Putin came to destroy us – as a state, as a nation. If a murderer came to your house and tried to kill you, and then your neighbor said: ‘Don't play with fire, you don't need to provoke him,’ then you would probably say your neighbor has lost their mind," the minister said, citing a clear example.

Commenting on the regular mass air attacks of the Russian Federation, Kuleba admitted the possibility of a complete blackout, considering such a scenario realistic. At the same time, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not expect a mass exodus of Ukrainians from the country due to the difficult situation this winter. Those living in cities are more likely to move to the countryside, where it is possible to use wood stoves.

To cope with the energy crisis, Ukraine needs non-military aid, especially generators and transformers, the top diplomat said. Kuleba thanked Germany, which does a lot in the non-military area to support Ukraine.

"We are very grateful for that," Kuleba said, adding that "the best way to stop Russia is, of course, by providing weapons."

Regarding weapons, Kuleba said that Kyiv "does not understand the reasoning" behind Germany’s hesitation to provide Leopard-2 main battle tanks amid ongoing supplies of other types of weapons, including modern ones. The minister admitted that Germany had promised Ukraine further supplies of weapons as the latest agreements concern, first of all, air defense systems, such as the state-of-the-art Iris-T SAMS and Gepard anti-aircraft tanks. But the list does not include Leopard-2 MBTs, which the Government of Ukraine has repeatedly requested.

"Such a decision has not been made yet, there are no commitments. But we are working on it," the minister assured. He is convinced that no one is interested in prolonging the war due to insufficient arms supplies to the Armed Forces.

It should be recalled that Germany is currently the largest provider of aid to Ukraine in Europe.

Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine