NATO Endorses Ukraine’s Right to Strike Inside Russia, Citing Self-Defense

NATO’s Stance on Ukraine’s Right to Strike Inside Russia

The head of NATO’s military committee, Rob Bauer, articulated a significant stance on Saturday regarding Ukraine’s military actions against Russia. He asserted that Ukraine possesses both the legal and military right to conduct strikes deep within Russian territory as a means of gaining a combat advantage. “Every nation that is attacked has the right to defend itself. And that right doesn’t stop at the border of your own nation,” Bauer emphasized during a press briefing following the committee’s annual meeting.

While Bauer acknowledged that countries can impose their own restrictions on the types of weapons they supply to Ukraine, he stood alongside Karel Řehka, chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces, who unequivocally stated that the Czech Republic does not impose such limitations. “We believe that the Ukrainians should decide themselves how to use it,” Řehka remarked. However, he also highlighted the political ramifications and the risk of escalation, noting, “It’s important to take into consideration every aspect, including the potential of escalation and other things.”

Ongoing Discussions in the West

These declarations come amid ongoing deliberations by U.S. President Joe Biden regarding the potential use of American-provided long-range weapons by Ukraine to target deeper into Russian territory. The differing opinions within Western nations regarding this issue are becoming increasingly apparent.

No Visible Shift in Policy Yet

Despite persistent calls from Ukraine for Western allies to permit deeper strikes into Russia, Western leaders remain cautious. Biden met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday, following a recent visit to Kyiv by their senior diplomats, who faced renewed pressure to relax restrictions on weapons supplies. Discussions around allowing long-range strikes were reportedly part of the agenda; however, no definitive decisions were announced immediately.

The U.S. currently permits Ukraine to use American-supplied weapons for cross-border strikes aimed at countering attacks from Russian forces. However, it maintains restrictions against using long-range missiles to strike deep into Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been actively advocating for the U.S. and its allies to enable his forces to utilize Western weapons against Russian airbases and launch sites, especially as Russia intensifies its assaults on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure ahead of the winter months. Although he refrained from commenting directly on the Saturday meeting, Zelenskyy reported that over 70 Russian drones were launched into Ukraine overnight, with the Ukrainian air force confirming that 72 out of 76 drones were intercepted.

“We need to boost our air defense and long-range capabilities to protect our people,” Zelenskyy noted on social media, adding, “We are working on this with all of Ukraine’s partners.”

NATO’s Military and Political Considerations

Providing additional support and training for Ukraine was a primary focus at the NATO chiefs’ meeting. However, it remains unclear whether the ongoing debate regarding U.S. restrictions was addressed. European nations have shown vigorous support for Ukraine, largely due to concerns about the potential for Russia to target them next.

At the meeting’s opening, Czech Republic President Petr Pavel urged military leaders to be “bold and open in articulating your assessments and recommendations,” cautioning that overly cautious or vague statements could lead to misunderstandings at the political level.

• “You want to weaken the enemy that attacks you in order to not only fight the arrows that come your way, but also attack the archer that is, as we see, very often operating from Russia proper into Ukraine,” Bauer explained. He emphasized the military rationale for striking deep into Russia, citing the need to disrupt logistical lines and supply chains crucial for the war effort.
• U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin echoed the necessity of weighing the risks of escalation alongside military strategy, stating, “There are a number of things that go into the overall equation as to whether or not you want to provide one capability or another. There is no silver bullet when it comes to things like this.” He also pointed out that Ukraine has already successfully struck inside Russian territory using its own domestically produced systems, including drones.

Warnings from Russia

Meanwhile, Russian officials continue to issue stern warnings about the potential consequences of long-range strikes, framing them as provocations that could escalate tensions between Russia and the West. This rhetoric aligns with the Kremlin’s longstanding narrative that accuses NATO countries of effectively engaging in the conflict.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov claimed on Saturday that the actions of the U.S. and British governments are driving the conflict towards a “poorly controlled escalation.” In response to these concerns, Biden dismissed comments made by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who suggested that permitting long-range strikes would signify that NATO countries, including the U.S. and its European allies, are at war with Russia. When asked for his thoughts on Putin’s threats, Biden simply stated, “I don’t think much about Vladimir Putin.”