NATO expects Ukraine to be “responsible” in its attacks on Russian positions and rejects that it is an escalation

Follow live the latest news about the war in Ukraine

After the US step, Germany maintains its reluctance, claiming that it “will do everything possible” so that NATO is not pushed into war

BRUSSELS, 31 ()

NATO has indicated this Friday that it expects Ukraine to be “responsible” in its attacks on Russian positions within its own borders, after the United States has lifted restrictions on some of the weapons provided to kyiv to attack Russian soil, while he has rejected that this represents an escalation in the conflict.

“Many allies have made it clear that they, of course, accept that Ukraine uses the weapons it has received to defend itself, including by attacking military targets inside Russia,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in remarks ahead of the meeting. informal meeting of allied foreign ministers in Prague.

“We all hope that this will be done in accordance with international law and in a responsible manner,” he stated, regarding attacking military targets in Russia, once the nature of the conflict has changed and, on the front in the Kharkiv region, Russia attacks from their side of the border.

The limitations on the use of weapons sent to the Ukrainian Army so that it can be used to hit Russian military targets on its own soil, has generated debate in recent weeks within NATO and the EU with more and more actors demanding that the weapons be withdrawn. limits on kyiv to use these weapons to hit Russian positions, in the face of the reluctance of Germany, Italy or until now the United States.

In the midst of this debate, it became known this Thursday that the President of the United States, Joe Biden, has given Ukraine permission to use weapons provided by Washington to attack Russian territory, although the measure is limited to areas near the Kharkiv region. where Russian troops are conducting an offensive.

In any case, Stoltenberg has moved away from the idea that this step represents an escalation in the conflict and is a direct confrontation between NATO and Moscow, as Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened. On the other hand, the former Norwegian Prime Minister recalled that this “is nothing new” since some allies have sent weapons without restrictions on their use since the early stages of the war, such as the United Kingdom.

“This has been the case for a long time. It has also been the case for a long time that every time NATO allies lend support to Ukraine, Putin tries to threaten us not to do so,” he said. Thus, he has added Moscow’s warnings against the allies for allowing Russia to be attacked on its own territory to other threatening messages since the invasion of Ukraine began. “That has been the message every time we have made the decision to deliver long-range artillery, HIMARS, advanced battle tanks, cruise missiles or F-16 fighters,” he recalled.

In any case, the NATO leader has framed the measure of removing limitations on Western weapons as part of Ukraine’s right to defense and recalled that this step was “urgent” in the face of the new front that has opened in the war, with combats in the Russian-Ukrainian border.

ALL EYES ON GERMANY

Upon arrival at the meeting, many allied foreign ministers emphasized that Ukraine must be able to defend itself from the attacks it suffers from Russian territory. “I think they are fully capable of defining the objectives. I have complete confidence that they understand what is needed and where the threat comes from,” stressed the Lithuanian Foreign Minister, Gabrielus Landsbergis, who has asked that the allies through dialogue with Kiev end up lifting the limitations.

In Landsbergis’ opinion, NATO has to decide whether it is “serious” in its support for Ukraine to win the war, but also in deterring Russia from continuing its aggression in the neighboring country and hybrid activities against allies, in addition to demonstrating seriousness to integrate new members. “Our credibility depends on it. We have to be able to be serious, dissuade and invite new members,” she assured.

With all eyes focused on Germany, one of the largest NATO allies that continues to impose restrictions on its Defense systems, the head of Foreign Affairs, Annalena Baerbock, has insisted that the line that Berlin follows is to help Ukraine in its defense and that it will “do everything possible” so that NATO is not pushed into war.

“I do not react to questions that give the impression that we are hitting Russia. Nobody is hitting Russia, it is Russia that attacks Ukraine against International Law and we do everything so that it can defend not only its country but its citizens.” , argued the German minister.

His Dutch colleague, Hanke Bruins, has made it clear that the weapons he sends to Ukraine, including the F-16 fighter jets, must be used for the defense of Ukraine and “there are no geographical limits” to exercising that right. “We make a strong claim that it is possible to use defense systems in accordance with the right of defense to use them on Russian soil, if the conditions are met,” he stated, insisting that allies must be “creative” when it comes to to help kyiv against the Russian invasion.

Meanwhile, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski has emphasized that legitimate military objectives on Russian territory are defined by the law of war and humanitarian law. On Estonia’s side, Margus Tsahkna has defended that Ukraine must be able to attack Russian infrastructure. “Happily, more and more countries are following this line and I hope that the United States and Germany remove these limits. They are not legitimate, we must give Ukraine the freedom to protect itself,” he summarized.