NATO Chief Supports Ukraine Strikes on Russian Territory
The Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, who previously supported granting permission to Ukrainian defence forces to strike targets on Russian territory, has welcomed the allies' decision to reduce restrictions.
The statement was made in an interview with Radio Liberty. The official specified that Ukraine must be able to defend itself against Russian aggression, and the right to self-defence allows strikes on targets within the aggressor's territory.
"This is exactly what Ukraine should be able to do, especially in Kharkiv, where the front line and the border coincide more or less. It would be very difficult if Ukrainians were forced to accept that Russian artillery batteries, missile batteries, or airfields would be safe for Russians, as Ukrainians could not use their weapons against them," Stoltenberg declared.
However, the Secretary General of NATO avoided responding to the question of whether radar stations in Russia could become targets for Ukraine.
"I will not go into detail regarding the exact manner in which Ukraine should conduct its self-defence operations. But they must respect international law and be conducted responsibly."
Commenting on the Russian offensive in the Kharkiv region and the outcome of the Alliance's foreign ministers' meeting in this context, the official emphasised again that he is "confident that Ukraine can win."
"This meeting of the foreign ministers of NATO member countries has given me great confidence that NATO allies are ready to support Ukraine in defeating and stopping the Russian invaders. Wars are inherently unpredictable. But what we have seen now is that Russia has not succeeded in making any major breakthrough. Its forces have made minor territorial gains but have paid a very high price. And now, weapons and munitions are coming from NATO allies," Stoltenberg concluded.
Previously, on May 31, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken officially confirmed that President Joe Biden granted Ukraine permission to strike Russian military installations with American weapons. Earlier, a series of European states, as well as the EU's chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, supported authorising Ukraine to use Western weapons to strike military targets in Russia. After the start of the Russian offensive in the Kharkiv region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that there should not be a prohibition on using Western weapons for strikes on Russian territory, because it is not about an offensive by Ukraine, but about defence.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
