Lithuania’s Foreign Minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, stated in an interview on Thursday that Ukraine must have the freedom to utilize the arms it has received. He expressed hope that Kyiv would be able to extend its reach into Russian territory with the weapons that Washington plans to supply.

While acknowledging the importance of arming Ukraine, Landsbergis emphasized that the effectiveness of such support diminishes if Kyiv is restricted in its use of the provided weaponry. “To position Ukraine as strongly as possible, it is essential to permit them to use the weaponry without limitations,” he remarked.

Ukraine has been urging the United States and other Western nations to permit long-range strikes, which it believes are crucial for countering Russia’s ongoing aerial assaults. In response, Russia has cautioned that any move to enable Ukraine to target Russian territory with long-range Western missiles would escalate what it perceives as direct involvement from the U.S. and Europe in the conflict, prompting a reaction from Moscow.

U.S. President Joe Biden announced on Thursday a substantial military aid package for Ukraine, exceeding $8 billion, which Landsbergis described as “huge.” This assistance includes the initial delivery of a precision-guided glide bomb known as the Joint Standoff Weapon, capable of reaching distances of up to 81 miles (130 km), surpassing the range of existing U.S.-supplied air-dropped glide bombs.

Landsbergis noted, “As I review President Biden’s statement, I observe that new long-range rockets are being provided, which extend beyond the previous capabilities.” He expressed hope that these rockets would not be limited to distant strikes but could be utilized effectively at the front lines.

A U.S. official previously indicated that Biden would not permit Ukraine to use American missiles for targeting deeper within Russian territory. Landsbergis mentioned that while he has not reviewed the details of Kyiv’s “victory plan” for concluding the conflict, there have been discussions among Ukrainians regarding the necessity of security guarantees.

He highlighted the renewed conversations about integrating Ukraine into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s common defense framework, emphasizing Lithuania’s strong support for this initiative and its importance on the agenda. “It must occur,” Landsbergis asserted. “If we aim to place Ukraine in a secure position, free from the threat of attack, we must address how to achieve that. Frankly, it’s not rocket science.”

During his visit to Washington on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy underscored the significance of securing Ukraine’s future within NATO, a goal he has persistently pursued. However, allies have yet to take definitive action on this matter.