Brussels 30.05.2024 Today NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg insisted at the opening of a meeting of the Alliance’s foreign ministers to let Ukraine use Western weapons to strike military targets inside Russian territory, a position appreciated by Kyiv but opposed by Biden administration so far.

The two-day meeting in Czech capital, Prague, was organised to focus on efforts to draft a list of articles in support for Ukraine at NATO’s summit in Washington in July.

However the intense debate over whether to let Kyiv use arms sent by Western providers to strike inside Russia risks overshadowing the talks.

Ukraine has been exercising pressure on the Alliance, led by the United States, to allow it to use the longer-range weapons they supply. Some countries including the UK and the Netherlands presume that Kyiv has the right to use their weapons to strike military targets in Russia.

Norway’s Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide joined the supporters today, declaring during TV interview that Kyiv should not have to fight “with one hand tied behind its back”.

Nevertheless the United States and Germany have continued to oppose Kyiv intention to strike over the border, out of fear it could drag them closer to frontal conflict with Moscow.

“The last weeks and months, most of the heavy fighting has taken place actually along the border between Russia and Ukraine,” Stoltenberg said ahead of the dinner with the top diplomats. “Therefore I believe that time has come to reconsider some of these restrictions to enable the Ukrainians to really defend themselves.”

French President Macron appeared to move the issue forward this week when he said Ukraine should be allowed to “neutralise” bases in Russia used to launch strikes.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, however, remained less enthusiastic, insisting that Ukraine should act within the international law, and Berlin had not supplied weapons that could hit Russia.

Across the Atlantic, the White House made clear that it opposed Ukraine using U.S. arms to strike inside Russia, though Secretary of State Antony Blinken hinted that strategy could be “adjusted”.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned there would be “serious consequences” if NATO allies cross the red line.

“NATO member states, the United States, and capitals in Europe in recent days and weeks have been entering a new round of escalations in tensions,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Those pressing for Ukraine to be given a blank cheque in use of weapons say they hope momentum is building for Washington and others to change course as Kyiv struggles to stop Russia’s offensive in the Kharkiv region, and beyond.

“I understand the concerns, I understand that there are weapon systems which can be used quite far away,” Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said.

“But I feel that we are even moving on that in the international sphere.”