IRIA News

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The Kremlin has sharply criticized comments made by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg regarding Ukraine’s potential use of Western long-range weapons to strike Russian territory. The remarks, which were made by Stoltenberg in an interview, were described by Moscow as “dangerous” and “provocative.”

In the interview, the outgoing NATO chief suggested that the West allowing Ukraine to fire missiles deep into Russian territory should not be seen as a “red line” that would trigger an escalation from Moscow. The NATO chief downplayed the threat posed by Russia, despite warnings from Russian President Vladimir Putin that such moves could involve the West in direct conflict with Russia.

“There have been many red lines declared by him before, and he has not escalated, meaning also involving NATO allies directly in the conflict,” Stoltenberg remarked. He went on to emphasize NATO’s strength and the collective understanding between nuclear-armed nations.

“He has not done so because he realizes that NATO is the strongest military alliance in the world. They also realize that nuclear weapons, and nuclear war, cannot be won and should not be fought. And we have made that very clear to him several times.”

These remarks came amidst rising tension over the potential for Ukraine to use advanced Western weaponry to strike targets within Russia, which Moscow has repeatedly warned against.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been pleading for months to his Western allies to supply long-range missiles such as U.S.-made ATACMS and British Storm Shadows to Ukraine. According to Zelenskyy, these weapons are crucial in limiting Moscow’s ability to launch attacks from within Russian borders.

The Kremlin did not take kindly to Stoltenberg’s dismissive stance. Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, responded harshly to the NATO chief’s comments, labeling them as “extremely provocative and dangerous.”

“This ostentatious desire not to take seriously the Russian president’s statements is a move that is completely short-sighted and unprofessional,” said Peskov, warning that the West should not underestimate Moscow’s resolve in defending its territory.

Ukraine’s push

Ukraine has significantly ramped up its military campaigns in recent months, launching counteroffensives into Russian-occupied areas. On August 6, Ukrainian forces conducted incursions into Russian territory, a bold move that undermined Russia’s “red lines.”

This escalation has renewed debates within NATO about the extent of support the alliance should provide to Ukraine. A senior NATO military official acknowledged that Ukraine would have valid military reasons to strike deeper into Russia using Western-provided weapons.

The official noted that discussions are ongoing among Kyiv’s Western allies, including the U.S. and the U.K., about whether to allow Ukraine to expand its range of operations into Russian territory using advanced weaponry.

Despite Moscow’s warnings, the West has continued to increase military support for Ukraine in ways that were initially unthinkable when the war began in February 2022. This includes the provision of tanks, advanced missiles, and even F-16 fighter jets. The growing sophistication of Ukraine’s military capabilities has led some Western politicians to suggest that Putin’s nuclear threats are nothing more than bluster.

Nuclear tensions

Senior Russian officials within the Kremlin have repeatedly alluded to the possibility of using nuclear weapons in response to any direct Western involvement in the conflict. On September 17, the head of Russia’s nuclear testing site confirmed that the facility was ready to resume nuclear tests “at any moment,” a stark reminder of the potential dangers of further escalation.

Russia possesses the world’s largest nuclear arsenal, and the ongoing war has raised concerns about the potential use of such weapons. However, Western analysts and leaders have suggested that Russia’s nuclear threats are designed to deter the West from providing further assistance to Ukraine, rather than signaling an imminent nuclear strike.

For his part, Zelenskyy continues to push for more robust support from the West, framing the incursions into Russian territory as a necessary step to disrupt Moscow’s military operations. He has argued that Putin’s nuclear rhetoric is a bluff meant to discourage Ukraine and its allies from taking decisive actions that could turn the tide of the war in Ukraine’s favor.

As the war drags on, the debate over how much support the West should provide Ukraine is far from settled. Stoltenberg’s comments, while controversial, reflect a broader sentiment among some Western leaders that Putin’s nuclear threats are unlikely to translate into actual use of weapons of mass destruction. Whether Kyiv will be granted the green light to strike deeper into Russian territory remains uncertain, but the Kremlin’s warnings suggest that any such move could have serious consequences for the ongoing conflict.