NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has stirred controversy by advocating for Ukraine to freely utilize Western-donated weapons to strike Russia. In an interview, Stoltenberg emphasized the importance of Ukraine defending itself amid escalating conflict near the Russian border. However, Moscow has refuted claims of any imposed weapon restrictions on Kiev, dismissing them as mere "tricks." This video delves into the heated debate surrounding Ukraine's military capabilities and NATO's role in the conflict, analyzing the implications of Stoltenberg's statements and Moscow's response. Stay tuned for a comprehensive analysis of this evolving situation.
#NATO #Ukraine #Russia #WeaponRestrictions #MilitaryConflict #Geopolitics #InternationalRelations #JensStoltenberg #Moscow
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#NATO #Ukraine #Russia #WeaponRestrictions #MilitaryConflict #Geopolitics #InternationalRelations #JensStoltenberg #Moscow
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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)