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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is skeptical of Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s warning amid discussions about allowing Ukraine to carry out long-range strikes deep into Russia.
Stoltenberg stated this in an interview with The Times.
Stoltenberg noted that if Ukraine is allowed to strike targets in Russia with long-range Western missiles, it would be “incorrect to say that NATO allies will become parties to the conflict.”
“North Korea and Iran provide significant military support and supply missiles and drones to Russia without becoming direct parties to the conflict,” he reminded.
The NATO Secretary General also dismissed Putin’s warning that such a decision would be a red line that would put Russia “in a state of war” with NATO.
“He (Putin) has previously declared many red lines and did not escalate, which would also mean direct involvement of NATO allies in the conflict. He did not do this because he realizes that NATO is the strongest military alliance in the world,” Stoltenberg believes.
According to him, Putin understands that nuclear war cannot be won and should not be fought, and NATO has “repeatedly made this clear to him.”
Earlier, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, commenting on discussions among member states regarding Ukraine’s long-range strikes on Russian territory, emphasized that each ally must make its own decision.
Ukraine aims to use long-range missiles to hit Russian airbases and military facilities used for attacks on Ukrainian cities.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha is convinced that allies should strengthen support for Kyiv despite Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s threats, as he does nothing despite his words.
