Russian leader Vladimir Putin has urged European countries to reconsider their support for Ukraine’s use of Western arms to launch strikes against Russia.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized the importance for NATO officials, particularly those based in small European countries, to fully comprehend the potential consequences of their actions. Putin’s statement highlights the need for increased awareness among these officials regarding the high stakes involved in their decision-making processes.
He continued to emphasize that it is important for them to consider the size and population density of their countries before discussing the idea of launching attacks deep into Russian territory.
Putin issued his warnings in response to European leaders advocating for Ukraine’s right to target Russian military assets. Despite Ukraine receiving substantial military aid from Western countries, restrictions imposed by the US prevent the nation from launching attacks on Russian territory.
In a recent interview with The Economist, Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO chief, expressed his belief that the restrictions should be relaxed to enable Ukraine to enhance its self-defense capabilities.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has called on allies to reevaluate the restrictions they have imposed on the weapons they have provided to Ukraine. Stoltenberg believes that the time has come to consider lifting some of these limitations.
“Denying Ukraine the ability to use these weapons against legitimate military targets on Russian territory, especially now when there is intense fighting in Kharkiv near the border, severely hampers their self-defense,” he pointed out, referring to a recent assault on the northeastern city of Kharkiv.
However, Putin cautioned on Tuesday that such a decision could result in significant repercussions for Europe.
According to Putin, the ongoing escalation could have significant repercussions. He raised the question of how the United States would respond if Europe were to experience these consequences, given the existing strategic arms parity.
BI reached out to representatives for NATO for comment, but they have not responded as of yet.
Other European leaders also share the belief that Ukraine should initiate a more assertive approach against Russia.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stated on Tuesday that there is no contradiction in accordance with the law of war. He emphasized the importance of balancing the risk of escalation with the need for Ukrainians to defend themselves.
Borrell’s remarks mirror those of French President Emmanuel Macron, who also urged for the easing of restrictions, as reported by the Financial Times.
Macron expressed his concern about the delicate balance between Ukraine’s need to protect its cities and the restrictions on attacking the source of missile launches. He compared the situation to giving someone a weapon for self-defense, but prohibiting them from using it. Macron emphasized the importance of allowing Ukraine to neutralize the military sites responsible for missile launches, while ensuring that civilian or military targets in Russia are not targeted.
Read More:
- Biden emphasizes the importance of upholding democracy in Memorial Day speech
- A rare lightning strike killed a Colorado rancher and his 34 cows