Arms deliveries: NATO Secretary General: More pressure on countries like Germany

In the discussion about the use of Western weapons to attack military targets in Russia, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is increasing the pressure on countries like Germany. At an EU defense ministers’ meeting in Brussels, the Norwegian renewed calls for the lifting of existing restrictions on Ukrainian attacks.

It will be very difficult and hard for the Ukrainians to defend themselves, especially in the Kharkiv region, if they cannot hit targets such as artillery positions or airfields on the other side of the border, Stoltenberg explained on the sidelines of the discussions. Some of the fighting in the region is taking place right on the border.

Selenskyj also puts his finger on the sore spot

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made similar comments at a press conference with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo in Brussels. On the sidelines of a meeting with the Prime Minister, he described the unequal situation of his troops during the Russian offensive in the border area with Kharkiv. They were being fired upon with artillery and long-range weapons, but were unable to hold out, he said. In order not to die in the fire, the Ukrainians were retreating step by step. And each time the Russians moved forward. Civilians and children were hit in the hardware store in Kharkiv. “And you can’t respond,” he said.

With these comments, Stoltenberg is putting pressure on Germany and other countries that have tied the transfer of weapons to Ukraine to strict conditions for their use. These stipulate, for example, that they may not be used to attack targets in Russia. The background to this is the fear that NATO could become a party to the war.

Escalation risk is considered manageable

Stoltenberg and defense ministers from eastern NATO states, however, stressed in Brussels that they do not see a major risk of escalation. Stoltenberg pointed out, for example, that weapons donated to Ukraine are Ukrainian weapons after they have been handed over and that some NATO states have always supplied Ukraine with weapons without conditions. He also stressed that the use of weapons against military targets is covered by Ukraine’s right to self-defense.

Estonia’s Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur explained that France and Great Britain had also warned of the risk of escalation before decisions were made to supply battle tanks or fighter jets or long-range cruise missiles – but ultimately nothing happened in any of the cases. “Russia is of course using every opportunity to say that sending something new is an escalation.”

“The Chancellor has said everything about it”

State Secretary Siemtje Möller, who traveled to the defense ministers’ meeting on behalf of the federal government, did not want to answer questions on the subject in more detail. “The Chancellor has said everything on the subject,” said the SPD politician.

Olaf Scholz, among others, had spoken out on the subject last weekend. When asked when he would allow the Ukrainian armed forces to bombard Russian territory with weapons supplied by Germany, the Chancellor said: “We have clear rules agreed with Ukraine for the arms deliveries we have made so far. And they work. That is my theory anyway.”

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell admitted on Tuesday afternoon after the defense ministers’ meeting that there is no scope for action for the EU in this case. “Nobody can force a member state to lift this restriction on weapons it supplies to Ukraine,” he said. “Nobody is being forced at the European Union level to act one way or the other.”

At the same time, Borrell made it clear which side he himself is on. Supplying Ukraine with weapons for self-defense for attacks on military targets in Russia is a legitimate measure under international law, said the Spaniard. Ukraine is currently in a situation in which Russia can attack it with virtual protection because it cannot attack the places from which the Russian attacks are being carried out.