NATO Chief: Ban on Strikes on Russia's Territory Hinders Ukraine's Defense Efforts, Countries Should Reconsider

Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg insists that allies need to reconsider restrictions on providing Ukraine with Western weapons amid Russia’s new offensive in the Kharkiv region.

Stoltenberg made these remarks at a press conference in Sofia, Bulgaria on Monday.

He noted that Ukraine is fighting in a defensive war and, under international law, has the right to self-defense.

"The right to self-defense includes the right to strike legitimate military targets outside Ukraine. This is part of self-defense. We see this clearly now in the battles in the Kharkiv region because Russian forces are on Russian territory, attacking Ukrainian territory at the border.

The front line more or less follows the border line, and if you cannot attack Russian forces on the other side of the front because they are on the other side of the border, then you really diminish the ability of Ukrainian forces to defend themselves," explained the NATO Chief.

Stoltenberg urged allies who have imposed restrictions on the use of weapons they have transferred to reconsider these limitations.

"My message is that we need to review these restrictions because, with too many restrictions, we tie one hand to the Ukrainian armed forces," said the NATO Secretary General.