Stoltenberg considers the Ukrainian offensive on the Russian Kursk region “legitimate”

Aug. 31 () –

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg believes that the Ukrainian army’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk region was in response to Ukraine’s right to self-defense and was therefore — in his opinion — “legitimate.”

“Russian soldiers, tanks and bases are legitimate targets under international law,” Stoltenberg told the German newspaper ‘Welt am Sonntag’, arguing that the aim of the offensive was to establish a “buffer zone to deter Russia from further attacks across the border.”

“And under international law, this right does not end at the border,” the secretary added, adding that “it is up to Ukraine to decide how to defend itself.”

However, the NATO representative clarified that “Ukraine did not discuss its planning for the Kursk offensive with NATO in advance,” so “NATO played no role in this regard.”

In the same interview, Stoltemberg welcomed the support for Ukraine from countries such as Germany and urged kyiv’s allies to provide more help so that “it can continue to defend itself and ultimately win.” “This is vital for Ukraine to be able to repel the Russian invasion,” he added.

Ukraine launched a ground attack on Kursk through the Sumi border region earlier this month. Since then, its troops have managed to take control of nearly 100 towns and 1,300 square kilometres. The Russian Defence Ministry has reported that at least 4,700 Ukrainian servicemen have died in the attack.