Stoltenberg Affirms Legitimacy of Ukraine’s Kursk Operation

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has commented for the first time on the Ukrainian Armed Forces' offensive in Russia’s Kursk region, emphasizing that the operation fully aligns with Ukraine’s right to self-defense. His statements were made during an interview with the German publication Welt am Sonntag.

“Russia has been waging a groundless war of aggression against Ukraine for more than 900 days and has since then carried out numerous attacks from the Kursk region across the border into Ukraine. The Russian soldiers, tanks, and bases are legitimate targets under international law.”

While acknowledging the risks associated with the operation in the Kursk region, Stoltenberg stressed that it is up to Ukraine to decide how to conduct its defense. He also dismissed Kremlin accusations that the West had prior knowledge of the offensive, asserting that Ukraine did not coordinate its plans with NATO.

Additionally, Stoltenberg noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made it clear that the operation aims to create a buffer zone to prevent further attacks from Russia. He reiterated that the decision to carry out this operation is solely Ukraine’s.

General Christopher Cavoli, Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO Allied Command Operations, added that Russia’s response to the Ukrainian offensive has been “slow and disorganized,” indicating a lack of preparedness among Russian forces.