London (Multibagger) - The outgoing head of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, expressed his approval on Monday for talks regarding Ukraine's potential use of long-range missiles to target Russian territory. However, he emphasized that the final decision on this matter would be made by individual allies.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been urging allies for months to authorize Ukraine to launch Western missiles, including long-range U.S. ATACMS and British Storm Shadows, deep into Russia in order to hinder Moscow's offensive capabilities.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Joe Biden met in Washington on Friday to discuss whether Kyiv should be allowed to deploy these long-range missiles against Russian targets. As of now, no decision has been announced.
"I welcome these developments and decisions, but the ultimate call lies with individual allies," Stoltenberg stated in an interview with LBC radio. "Different allies have varying policies on this matter."
Despite Ukrainian hopes, some U.S. officials doubt that the use of such missiles would significantly impact Kyiv's struggle against Russian forces.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that permitting Ukraine to strike with Western-made long-range missiles would essentially amount to the West directly engaging in conflict with Russia.
When questioned about potential Russian retaliation, Stoltenberg acknowledged that there are no risk-free options in war. He also emphasized his belief that the greatest risk for the UK, NATO, and the West would be if Putin were to emerge victorious in Ukraine.
Analysis:
The article discusses the ongoing talks regarding Ukraine's potential use of long-range missiles against Russia, with NATO head Jens Stoltenberg expressing support for the dialogue. The decision on this matter ultimately rests with individual allies, and Ukrainian President Zelenskiy has been advocating for the authorization to target Russian territory with Western missiles. There is skepticism among some U.S. officials about the effectiveness of such missiles in Ukraine's conflict with Russia, while Russian President Putin has warned of direct confrontation if Ukraine is allowed to use these weapons. Stoltenberg highlighted the absence of risk-free options in war and underscored the importance of preventing a Russian victory in Ukraine to avoid significant risks for the UK, NATO, and the West.