Rutte explains NATO position on strikes with long-range missiles deep into Russian Federation

NATO's position on Ukraine's authorization to launch strikes deep into Russian territory is not of a general nature, which is why each individual country that is a member of the bloc can make its own decisions on this issue. This was stated by the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Alliance Mark Rutte on November 19.

"NATO has repeatedly stated that when Ukraine's allies supply it with weapons, they should not impose restrictions on their use. However, making such a decision (on strikes deep into the Russian Federation. - Ed.) remains in the right of each country supplying aid," Rutte commented to reporters in Brussels.

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Earlier, on November 18, former Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl said that NATO would enter into a direct conflict with Russia if it decides to strike deep into Russia with long-range missiles. In her opinion, given the military situation, the U.S. and Europe will have to change the course of events and find a way out of the dilemma created by themselves.

In turn, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto criticized Biden's decision to allow the AFU to strike deep into the Russian Federation. According to him, such a decision contradicts the will of the voters who chose Donald Trump as the new US President.

On November 17, The New York Times reported that US President Joe Biden allegedly allowed Ukraine to use US long-range missiles to strike Russia. Le Figaro newspaper wrote at the same time that the French and British authorities had made a similar decision, but then removed this information from the article. European Union (EU) diplomacy chief Josep Borrel said afterwards that on November 18-19 the issue of lifting restrictions on strikes deep into Russia with European weapons would be discussed.

At the same time, Deputy National Security Advisor to the US President John Feiner did not confirm on November 18 that Washington had given such permission to Kiev. The official emphasized that the White House bases its decisions on the situation on the battlefield.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, commenting on the possible authorization for Ukraine to use ATACMS for strikes on Russian territory, pointed out that such a move by the USA would become a qualitatively new round of tension, and Moscow 's position on this issue is clear to everyone.

Western countries have stepped up military and financial support for Ukraine against the backdrop of Russia's special operation to protect Donbass, which began on February 24, 2022. The decision to carry it out was taken by the Russian president because of the aggravation of the situation in the region due to the increased shelling by Ukrainian troops.