NATO Chief Calls for Reconsideration of Ukraine Strike Restrictions

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has urged governments to rethink restrictions on Ukraine‘s use of military aid to strike Russian forces on Russian soil. He reportedly argued these limits hinder Ukraine’s ability to defend itself effectively.

The Right to Defend

Stoltenberg, speaking in Bulgaria, emphasized that Russia‘s invasion, which began in early 2022, violates international law. He stated Ukraine has the right to defend itself, even if that means targeting legitimate threats outside its borders.

“We see this very clearly demonstrated now in the fighting in Kharkiv,” Stoltenberg said. “The Russian forces are on Russia territory attacking, just over the border, Ukrainian territory. The front line is more or less the border line, and if you cannot attack the Russian forces on the other side of the front line because they are on the other side of the border, then of course you really reduce the ability of the Ukrainian forces to defend themselves.”

Ukraine’s Plea for Support

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy echoed Stoltenberg’s sentiments, calling for international support to lift restrictions that prevent Ukraine from using foreign-provided weapons to strike targets inside Russia. He described the need for “preemptive protection against Russian terrorists.”

Zelenskyy stated, “We can see every point where Russian troops are concentrated. We know all areas from which Russian missiles are launched and combat aircraft take off.”

The U.S. Stance

The U.S. maintains a policy against enabling Ukrainian strikes beyond its borders. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told VOA, “Ukraine is a sovereign country, and they will have to make their own determinations when it comes to using weapons that they have acquired elsewhere or that they have built or that they have produced themselves, such as some of the drones that they produce, that you’ve seen them use.”

Recent Drone Attacks

Western Russia reported multiple Ukrainian drone attacks. Officials noted an attack on a fuel station in Livny, killing at least one person and injuring three others. Russia’s defense ministry claimed its air defenses destroyed several Ukrainian drones over Oryol, Krasnodar, Belgorod, and Bryansk regions.

DroneXL’s Take

This discussion highlights the complex nature of international military support and the difficult decisions faced by both Ukraine and its allies. Lifting restrictions on strikes inside Russia could significantly enhance Ukraine’s defensive capabilities. Drones, being a key tool in modern warfare, continue to play a crucial role in these operations, emphasizing the importance of strategic and unrestricted use for effective defense.

Photo credit X / NATO