NATO secretary-general Stoltenberg claims no escalation risks as US strikes Russian-backed targets.
Meanwhile, Stoltenberg was urging pressure on Germany and other nations to permit strikes against Russia with their supplied weapons. Stoltenberg stated, "Ukraine is entitled to self-defense, and this entails the right to assault legitimate military objectives within Russia." This became increasingly crucial as clashes took place close to the Russian border in the Charkiw region.
The Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky echoed Stoltenberg's demand, noting, "Ukraine has been assaulted and thus has the right to defend itself. It's logical to ward off these attacks before they become violent in Ukrainian territory."
Likewise, representatives from the Baltic states voiced their thoughts. Estonia's Foreign Minister Markus Tsahkna deemed the limits on weapon use "unlawful" and pleaded with Germany to lift them. Lithuania's Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis voiced hope for a diplomatic solution from the German government.
Previously, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) had stressed the escalation risk and emphasized he sought to avoid "a war between Russia and NATO." However, US President Joe Biden has since removed restrictions on his own arms. This, however, only applies to the defense of the Charkiw region in eastern Ukraine facing attacks, a US government spokesperson indicated in Washington on Thursday.
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Stoltenberg's assertion of no escalation risks was made in response to the US striking Russian-backed targets in Ukraine. The risk of escalation remains a concern for some, such as German Chancellor Scholz, who seeks to avoid a war between Russia and NATO. Despite this, US President Biden has removed restrictions on US weapons for the defense of the Charkiw region in eastern Ukraine. This move was met with support from some NATO members, such as Estonia's Foreign Minister Tsahkna, who deemed the limits on weapon use "unlawful." Meanwhile, Lithuania's Foreign Minister Landsbergis voiced hope for a diplomatic solution. The Czech Foreign Minister Lipavsky also backed Ukraine's right to self-defense and defend against attacks on its territory. These developments come as clashes near the Russian border in the Charkiw region have become more frequent.
