Ukraine has full right to act in Kursk Oblast – Finnish president

Finnish President Alexander Stubb firmly believes that Kyiv has the right to defend itself against Russian aggression, including through actions within Russia's Kursk Oblast.

"The fact that Ukraine is ultimately defending itself on the Kursk front, having penetrated some 30-40 kilometres into the country, they have every right to do so. We see no reason to restrict the activities of the Ukrainians," Stubb stated during his visit to the Åland Islands, as quoted by Finnish public service media company Yle.

Stubb added that Ukraine is free to use the weapons provided by Finland on Russian territory.

"We have no restrictions on what weapons Ukraine can use or how they are employed. The starting point is that Ukraine has every right to defend itself within the framework of international law," Stubb said.

In his first comments on Ukraine's offensive in Kursk, US President Joe Biden called the operation a "real dilemma" for Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin.

After speaking with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba about Ukraine's offensive in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell said that the EU fully supports the struggle of the Ukrainian people.

US officials confirmed that Russia is withdrawing some of its forces from Ukraine to respond to the Ukrainian offensive in Kursk Oblast.