Stoltenberg calls on NATO to allow Ukraine to use Western weapons against military targets in Russia

He said this in an interview with The Economist.

“The time has come for allies to consider whether they should lift some of the restrictions they have put on the use of weapons they have donated to Ukraine,” said Mr Stoltenberg. “Especially now when a lot of the fighting is going on in Kharkiv, close to the border, to deny Ukraine the possibility of using these weapons against legitimate military targets on Russian territory makes it very hard for them to defend themselves.”

The NATO Secretary General emphasized that Ukraine has the right to defense, which also includes strikes against targets on Russian territory. Stoltenberg acknowledged the risk of escalation. The task, he said, is “to prevent this war becoming a full-fledged war between Russia and NATO in Europe.”

But he drew a distinction between the supply of weapons and training and military engagement. “We provide training, we provide weapons, ammunition to Ukraine, but we will not be directly involved from NATO territory in combat operations over or in Ukraine. So that’s a different thing,” he said.

• On May 1, Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže said that Ukraine has already received Western weapons from some partners with permission to strike at Russian territory.

• The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe said that the United States should allow Ukraine to strike military targets in Russia's border regions.

• Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said that the weapons provided by the US to Ukraine should be used within Ukrainian territory.

• According to the WSJ, Ukraine has asked US President Joe Biden's administration to lift restrictions on the use of US weapons against military targets in Russia.