NATO Secretary General Insists on Ukraine 'Neutralizing' Russian Military Facilities, French President Supports, Moscow Speaks Out

On May 28, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Jens Stoltenberg continued to call for lifting restrictions on Ukraine's use of Western weapons to attack military targets on Russian territory.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. (Source: NATO)

Speaking on the sidelines of the European Union (EU) Defense Ministers' Conference in Brussels, Belgium, Mr. Stoltenberg said: "In Kharkov province, it will be very difficult for Ukraine to defend itself if it cannot attack artillery positions or airports on the other side of the border."

Ukraine's Ukrinform news agency quoted the head of NATO and defense ministers of Eastern European countries in the alliance as saying that there was no risk of significant escalation if Kiev was allowed to lift the restrictions.

According to Mr. Stoltenberg, some NATO members have provided weapons without restrictions and once transferred, these weapons become the property of Ukraine.

Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur agreed with the NATO official, stressing that previous concerns about escalation with the supply of tanks, fighter jets and cruise missiles from France and Britain had not materialized.

With these arguments, NATO is pushing for the lifting of restrictions to strengthen Kiev's self-defense capabilities in the ongoing conflict with Russia.

Earlier on May 27, Secretary General Stoltenberg also made a similar call at the Spring Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and in an interview with the Economist .

On this issue, AFP news agency on the same day quoted French President Emmanuel Macron emphasizing that Kiev should be allowed to "neutralize" Moscow's military bases from which the Russian army launched missiles into Ukraine.

However, the French leader noted: "We should not allow Ukraine to 'touch' other targets in Russia that are clearly civilian facilities."

In response to NATO's move on May 27, RT reported that Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded.

Mr. Peskov emphasized that Moscow considers Mr. Stoltenberg's statement as the official stance of the entire military bloc and Russia will react accordingly.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tong-thu-ky-nato-khang-khang-muon-de-ukraine-vo-hieu-hoa-co-so-quan-su-nga-tong-thong-phap-ung-ho-moscow-len-tieng-272962.html