(ANSA-AFP) - PRAGUE, MAY 31 - NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg
pushed at the start of a meeting of the alliance's foreign
ministers on Thursday to let Ukraine use Western weapons to
strike inside Russia, a move sought by Kyiv but opposed for now
by its chief backer Washington. The two-day meeting in Prague is
meant to focus on efforts to hammer out a package of support for
Ukraine at NATO's summit in Washington in July. But the swirling
debate over whether to let Kyiv use arms sent by Western backers
to strike inside Russia risks overshadowing the talks. Ukraine
has been pressing its supporters, led by the United States, to
allow it to use the longer-range weaponry they supply to hit
targets on Russian soil. Some countries including Britain and
the Netherlands say Kyiv has the right to use their weapons to
strike military targets in Russia. Norway's Foreign Minister
Espen Barth Eide added his support Thursday, telling NRK
television that Kyiv should not have to fight "with one hand
tied behind its back". But the United States and Germany have
long opposed allowing Kyiv to strike over the border, out of
fear it could drag them closer to direct 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 opening dinner with ministers.
"Therefore I believe that time has come to reconsider some of
these restrictions to enable the Ukrainians to really defend
themselves." French President Emmanuel Macron appeared to shift
the dial forward on Tuesday when he said Ukraine should be
allowed to "neutralise" bases in Russia used to launch strikes.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, however, remained less committal,
saying Ukraine should act within the law -- and Berlin had not
supplied weapons that could hit Russia anyway. Across the
Atlantic, the White House said it still opposed Ukraine using US
arms to strike inside Russia, though Secretary of State Antony
Blinken hinted that strategy could change. Russian President
Vladimir Putin has warned there would be "serious consequences"
if Western countries gave approval to Ukraine. "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 Thursday. Those
pressing for Ukraine to be given a freer rein 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. "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." - 'Firmer footing' - As
NATO allies wrestle with that issue, ministers in Prague are
also trying to come up with a support package that keeps Ukraine
satisfied as its eventual membership in the alliance remain a
distant prospect. After pressing hard at a summit last year,
Kyiv has been told firmly by NATO countries -- led by the United
States and Germany -- that it should not expect any concrete
progress toward joining the alliance in Washington. Stoltenberg
instead wants to get alliance members to make clear, multi-year
commitments on how much aid they'll give to Ukraine in the
future. Last month he floated an overall target figure of 100
billion euros ($108 billion) over five years, but that fell flat
among allies confused over what it would involve. Diplomats say
debate is ongoing as allies try to work out what any pledges
would cover and how they might be structured. One area where
NATO does seem closer to agreement is a plan for the alliance to
take over from the US coordination of weapon supplies to
Ukraine. So far, Washington has been in charge as NATO has
stayed clear of involvement in delivering arms due to worries it
would incite Russia. Proponents say making the alliance
responsible overall could help insulate future deliveries
against a possible return of Donald Trump to the US presidency.
But others fear it might just add more bureaucracy. "We plan to
put our support on a firmer footing, including with a greater
NATO role in coordinating security assistance and training, as
well as a multi-year financial commitment," Stoltenberg said.
(ANSA-AFP).
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