Stoltenberg backs strikes deep into Russia with Western weapons: Ukraine has a right to defend itself

Ukraine has the right to defend itself against Russian aggression, even by attacking targets on Russian territory, asserts former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Stoltenberg remarked in an interview for German newspaper Der Spiegel that allies are still debating this topic.

"But we must always remember that this is a violent conflict, a flagrant violation of all international conventions, and an attempt by Russia to seize control of Ukraine. Ukraine has a right to defend itself. This right includes attacks on military targets in Russia," he stated.

Stoltenberg believes that Russia should not fool Ukraine's Western partners with threats.

"Russia has declared from the beginning that the West's supply of weaponry is unacceptable. But we did provide the weapons. We cannot cease supporting [Ukraine – ed.] because of Russia's threats," he concluded. 

In late September, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said that a decision to lift restrictions on Ukraine's use of long-range Western weapons against military targets in Russia may be made by early winter.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz once again rejected calls to supply Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine.

In early October, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that the possibility of permitting Kyiv to strike deep into Russian Federation territory with Western weapons had been discussed at a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.