Zakharova: European weapons factories supplying Ukraine are ‘legitimate targets’ for Russia

MOSCOW – Factories in Europe that produce weapons for Ukraine are legitimate and potential military targets for Russia, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova declared on Wednesday, as Reuters reports.

Zakharova, at a press briefing, said European countries are directly involved in the conflict through their military support for Ukraine, adding that this engagement only pushes the settlement of the war further away, instead of bringing it closer.

Her statement came in response to a question about Poland’s apparent willingness to host a factory that would produce Patriot interceptor missiles for Ukraine.

NATO and many European countries stress that they will continue to do everything they can to support Ukraine, to help it repel Russian forces and shoot down drones and missiles.

“Weapons factories in European countries that produce weapons for Ukraine are potential military targets for Russia, and it should not be assumed that military factories outside Ukrainian territory that produce weapons for the Kyiv regime will be safe. Anyone who thinks so is wrong,” Zakharova said.

“European countries are directly involved in the Ukrainian conflict. They are not simply giving aid. By opening weapons factories and joint enterprises, they are fully involved. And this only delays the settlement of the conflict instead of bringing it closer, as some forces in Europe think or imagine,” the Russian spokeswoman added.