The Kremlin has criticized NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg for suggesting that alliance members should allow Ukraine to strike deep into Russia using Western weapons. Stoltenberg’s comments indicated that NATO members supplying weapons to Ukraine should lift their restrictions on using these weapons against military targets within Russia.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to Stoltenberg’s remarks that NATO was escalating the conflict. “NATO is increasing the degree of escalation,” Peskov stated. “NATO is flirting with military rhetoric and falling into military ecstasy,” he added, assuring that the Russian military was prepared for any developments.
When asked if NATO was approaching a direct confrontation with Russia, Peskov asserted, “They are not getting close; they are in it.” He emphasized that Russia perceives NATO’s actions as a direct conflict.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly cautioned the West about the risks of a global war over Ukraine, warning that a direct conflict between Russia and NATO could bring the world to the brink of World War Three.
Russian officials have expressed concerns that Ukrainian attacks deep inside Russia, including on civilian areas and parts of Russia’s nuclear defenses, are highly provocative and escalatory.
The United States has consistently stated that it does not support Ukraine striking targets inside Russia, though Ukraine has been advocating for such actions. The Economist suggested that Stoltenberg’s comments were directed at U.S. President Joe Biden, who has so far resisted allowing Ukraine to use U.S. weapons for strikes within Russia.
