Hot Debate in NATO Over Use of Western Weapons in Kyiv's Attacks on Russian Territory

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO's Secretary General, at the start of the union's foreign ministers' meeting on Thursday, pushed for allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons to attack inside Russia. This is an action Kyiv is seeking, but currently faces opposition from its main supporter, Washington. The two-day meeting in Prague is set to focus on efforts to draft a support package for Ukraine at the NATO summit in Washington in July. However, the heated debate over whether Kyiv will be allowed to use weapons from Western supporters to attack Russian territory could overshadow the negotiations. Ukraine is pressuring its supporters led by the United States to allow it to use their longer-range weapons to target sites in Russian territory. Some countries, including the UK and the Netherlands, say Kyiv has the right to use the weapons sent by them to attack military targets in Russia. Espen Barth Eide, Norway's Foreign Minister, also stated on Thursday that Kyiv should not be forced to 'fight with one hand tied behind its back.' However, the United States and Germany have long opposed allowing Kyiv to attack across the border, fearing it could bring them closer to direct conflict with Moscow. Jens Stoltenberg, NATO's Secretary General, said before the opening dinner of the Prague meeting, 'In recent weeks and months, most heavy fighting has actually occurred along the border of Russia and Ukraine; therefore, I believe it is time to review some of these restrictions to empower Ukrainians to defend themselves.' Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that if Western countries give Ukraine the green light on this matter, there will be 'serious consequences.' Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, also said on Thursday, 'NATO member countries, the United States, and European capitals have entered a new round of escalating tensions in recent days and weeks.' While NATO allies grapple with this issue, ministers in Prague are also trying to provide a support package that keeps Ukraine satisfied while its final membership in the alliance remains unlikely. The senior commander of the Ukrainian army reported on Thursday, June 10, an increase in Russian forces near the northern part of the Kharkiv region. Reuters quoted General Alexander Syrski as saying that Russia is increasing its troops in this area of eastern Ukraine, but the number of these forces is not enough to 'launch a major attack.' In recent days, Russia has significantly increased its attacks on Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, as well as the Donetsk region. Russian officials say their army is trying to create a buffer zone between occupied areas and Ukraine by attacking northeastern Ukraine. Russia has made its largest territorial advance in Ukraine in the past 18 months by occupying parts of Kharkiv this month. According to the Ukrainian general, the country's army is also 'strengthening its defensive lines' in the region. The General Staff of the Ukrainian army announced on Sunday evening that its forces had repelled an attack near the village of Ivanivka, in the eastern area of the town of Kupiansk. The advance of the Russian army in northeastern Ukraine has been marked by the capture of two more villages. This agency also stated in another announcement on Monday afternoon that Ukrainian forces had thwarted seven attempts by the Russian army to advance in the Kupiansk area. Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced on Thursday that it had shot down 13 drones belonging to the Ukrainian army in the Krasnodar region and the Crimean Peninsula. More than two years after the start of the military invasion of Ukraine by Russia, Kyiv is now making more efforts to bring the war into Russian territory and has repeatedly targeted Russian energy infrastructure in recent weeks. The warning from the Ukrainian commander about the increase of Russian forces in Kharkiv came a day after the U.S. Secretary of State said on Wednesday that the U.S. and its allies are coordinating their plans to deliver weapons to Kyiv to ensure Ukraine's success. Antony Blinken further described Vladimir Putin's attempts to capture Kharkiv as 'unsuccessful.'