00:00 NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has called for member nations to reconsider restrictions
00:22 on the use of weapons donated to Ukraine, suggesting they should be allowed to strike
00:28 deeper into Russian territory.
00:31 In an interview with The Economist on Friday, Stoltenberg argued that lifting these restrictions
00:37 is crucial for Ukraine to defend itself specifically as intense fighting continues in Kharkov,
00:45 close to the Russian border.
00:48 The time has come for allies to consider whether they should lift some of the restrictions
00:53 they have put on the use of weapons they have donated to Ukraine.
00:58 To deny Ukraine the possibility of using these weapons against legitimate military targets
01:04 on Russian territory makes it very hard for them to defend themselves.
01:10 He pointed out that some NATO members have already removed such limitations.
01:15 When asked if the United States was the major holdout, Stoltenberg suggested that the current
01:22 situation requires a reconsideration of these restrictions due to the ongoing conflict along
01:29 the Russia-Ukraine border.
01:31 However, Moscow has dismissed these rhetoric as deceptive, claiming that Western nations
01:38 are already complicit in the conflict.
01:42 Russian Foreign Ministry's Sergei Lavrov asserted that US weapons have been used in
01:47 attacks inside Russia targeting civilian infrastructure and residential areas.
01:55 Stoltenberg's comments come amid increasingly bold statements from Western leaders regarding
02:00 attacks on Russian territory.
02:03 Initially, US President Joe Biden was cautious about sending long-range weapons to Ukraine
02:09 to avoid escalating the conflict.
02:12 These advanced weapons were provided with conditions prohibiting strikes on Russian
02:17 territory.
02:18 However, according to a New York Times report on Thursday, opinions on these restrictions
02:25 have shifted as Russian forces gain ground.
02:28 Following a recent visit to Kiev, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reportedly began advocating
02:35 for Ukraine to have more freedom in using American weapons.
02:39 Additionally, a group of US lawmakers sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin
02:46 urging him to grant the permissions Ukrainians have requested.
02:51 Stoltenberg believes NATO can support Ukraine's defense without becoming direct combatants
02:57 in the conflict.
02:58 He explained, "We provide training, we provide weapons, ammunition to Ukraine, but we will
03:05 not be directly involved from NATO territory in combat operations over or in Ukraine.
03:11 So that's a different thing."
03:19 (upbeat music)
Comments