Ukraine can hit military targets on the territory of Russia if that is necessary for self-defense, Defense Minister of the Netherlands Ruben Brekelmans has said on Friday.

"We have always been clear that Ukraine has the right to self-defense and it can also mean that it can hit military targets in Russia if that’s necessary for the self-defense. We always said that Ukraine is to comply with international law and did not put any restrictions in terms of miles or kilometers that Ukraine can use those weapons," he told reporters ahead of an informal meeting of the EU Defense Ministers in Brussels on Friday.

The minister underlined that Ukraine has to use weapons for self-defense and hit military, "because that’s in accordance with the right to self-defense and in accordance with humanitarian law, and that’s what key for the Netherlands."

As for his expectations from the informal meeting, Brekelmans said that after Russia's heavy bombardments over the last couple of weeks, the participants of the meeting "need to realize that we need to deliver fast and we need to deliver more."

"We do not only need to speak big words, but we need big actions and also consistency in our actions. That’s what I would call for today. And I hope that my colleagues as well will realize that we cannot rest," the Dutch minister said.