JAKARTA - North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said, "it is time" for members of the military alliance to reconsider some restrictions on the use of weapons they supply to Ukraine to support the country's resistance to Russia.
"Allies provide various types of military support to Ukraine and some of them have imposed some restrictions on the use of these weapons. These are national decisions," Stoltenberg said in a speech delivered in Prague, Czech Republic, ahead of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers, reported by Reuters, May 31.
"But I think given the way this war has developed, it is time to consider some of these restrictions, to allow Ukraine to really defend itself," he continued.
While Ukrainian leaders have urged governments from Berlin to Washington D.C. to ease restrictions on arms supplies, Western countries have appeared increasingly divided in recent weeks over whether Ukraine's military should be allowed to strike targets on Russian soil.
Some of Ukraine's allies such as Britain, the Baltic states, and Denmark argue this is part of legitimate self-defense against an invasion.
Others, meanwhile, say their weapons can only be used in Ukraine, reflecting fears that an attack inside Russia could drag the West into direct conflict with Moscow.
Belgium’s prime minister said this week that the F-16 fighter jets his country plans to start delivering to Ukraine this year can only be used inside Ukraine.
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Germany issued a similar warning for its heavy weaponry shipments, including Leopard tanks.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron insisted that Ukraine should be allowed to use French weapons, including long-range missiles, against targets in Russian territory where Moscow is attacking Ukraine.
On Tuesday, President Vladimir Putin warned Western countries not to allow Ukraine to attack deep into Russian territory with weapons provided by allies, as it could trigger a global conflict.
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