Stoltenberg urges NATO countries to allow Ukraine to strike deep inside Russia with their weapons: what is going on

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg believes that it is time for the bloc's states to lift "some restrictions" on the use of weapons provided to Ukraine. According to him, Kyiv has the right to defend itself, and this defense should include, in particular, strikes on the occupiers' military targets in Russia.

He said this in an interview with The Economist on May 24. He called on NATO allies who supply the Ukrainian Defense Forces with weapons to lift the ban on their use in Russia.

"It's time for the allies to consider whether they should lift some of the restrictions they have imposed on the use of the weapons they have given to Ukraine. Especially now, when there is a lot of fighting in the Kharkiv region, not far from the border. Since Ukraine is unable to use these weapons against legitimate military targets in Russia, it is very difficult for it to defend itself," he said.

The Secretary-General also emphasized that the task is to "prevent this war from turning into a full-fledged war between Russia and NATO in Europe."

At the same time, he drew a distinction between arms supplies and training and military operations.

"We are conducting exercises, we are providing Ukraine with weapons and ammunition, but we will not directly participate in hostilities over Ukraine or on its territory from NATO territory. So this is a different matter," Stoltenberg said.

He emphasized that NATO "has no intention" of sending ground troops to Ukraine.

"Our goal was twofold: to support Ukraine, as we do, but also to ensure that this does not escalate into a full-scale conflict," the NATO Secretary-General said.

As reported, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that Washington does not encourage Ukraine to use Western weapons to strike Russian territory. However, Ukraine has the right to make its own decisions on how to fight.

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