NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has expressed support for ongoing discussions regarding Ukraine’s potential use of long-range missiles to strike targets within Russian territory, according to Politico.
Speaking to LBC radio on 16 September, Stoltenberg emphasized that the final determination rests with individual NATO allies:
“I welcome these developments and these decisions but it’s for individual allies to make the final decisions,” Stoltenberg stated, adding, “Allies have different policies on this.”
The topic has gained traction following talks between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Joe Biden in Washington on 15 September. The leaders discussed the possibility of allowing Kyiv to use long-range weapons, including US-made ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles, against targets in Russia. However, no decision was announced following their meeting.
Stoltenberg addressed concerns about potential Russian retaliation, stating,
“There are no risk-free options in the war,” he said, adding, “But I continue to believe that the biggest risk for us, for [the] United Kingdom, for NATO, will be if President Putin wins in Ukraine.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously threatened that allowing Ukraine to strike with Western-made long-range missiles would amount to the West directly fighting Russia.
Similar threats came from Russia before the approval of almost every western weapon’s supplies to Ukraine, including artillery, tanks, and F-16 fighter jets.
Related:
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- Former UK officials push for unilateral approval for Ukraine’s long-range missile use in Russia
- Politico: Biden deliberates on Ukraine’s missile use in Russia as nuclear plants face rising threats
- NATO chief Stoltenberg defends Ukraine’s right to strike targets in Russia
- No green light yet for Ukraine’s deep strikes, UK’s Starmer reports after White House meeting
- Scholz doubles down on Germany’s stance against providing Taurus missiles to Kyiv
- Trudeau: Canada fully supports Ukraine using long-range weaponry in Russia
- UK quietly approves Ukraine’s use of Storm Shadow missiles in Russia, US may lift similar restrictions, The Guardian says
- US “incredibly alarmed” by reported Iran missile transfers to Russia, but maintains Ukraine deep strike ban
