Kyiv has the right to strike military targets outside Ukraine, said NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
Earlier, the Financial Times reported, citing its sources, that the US had urged Kyiv not to attack Russian oil refineries and other energy infrastructure, as this could lead to further escalation and a global surge in energy prices.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1778098172981604712
“Part of self-defense is also that Ukraine has the right to strike legitimate military targets outside Ukraine to defend themselves. I welcome that allies are providing military support for Ukraine to enable their self-defense,” said Jens Stoltenberg during a meeting with Finnish President Alexander Stubb at the Alliance’s headquarters in Brussels.
Stoltenberg reminded that Russia has invaded Ukraine, grossly violating international law, and Ukraine has the right to self-defense enshrined in the UN Charter.
However, the US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that Ukraine’s recent attacks on Russian oil refineries risk impacting global energy markets, and urged the country to focus on military targets instead.
“Those attacks could have a knock-on effect in terms of the global energy situation,” Austin told the Senate Armed Services committee. “Ukraine is better served in going after tactical and operational targets that can directly influence the current fight.”
NATO believes that the Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries had a tangible impact on its fuel market and imposed additional financial costs.
Read more:
- US defense secretary warns Ukraine over strikes on Russian oil refineries
- Ukrainian drone strikes cripple over 10% of Russia’s oil refining capacity, NATO official says
- Another oil refinery targeted in Russia’s Tatarstan by drones
