Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov Photo: Sergey Bobylev/TASS
The Kremlin on Wednesday reacted sharply to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg’s recent remarks, calling them “dangerous.” In an interview with The Times, Stoltenberg suggested that allowing Ukraine to use Western long-range weapons to strike targets on Russian territory would not cross a red line for Moscow, Reuters reports.
Ukraine’s Request and Moscow’s Reaction
For months, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been urging Kyiv’s Western allies to authorize the use of advanced long-range missiles, such as the U.S.-made ATACMS and British Storm Shadows, to target Russian military installations. Zelensky argues that such strikes are necessary to limit Moscow’s ability to continue its assault on Ukraine.
However, Moscow viewed these comments as a direct threat, particularly in light of Stoltenberg’s statements. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the remarks “a dangerous step” and added, “This blatant disregard for the Russian president’s words shows a lack of vision and professionalism.”
Putin’s Warning
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that if the West allowed Ukraine to launch strikes on Russian territory using long-range missiles, it would mean that “NATO countries are at war with Russia.” His comments, reported by AFP and EFE, underscored the gravity of the situation and the potential for further escalation.
Peskov linked Stoltenberg’s statements to his approaching departure as NATO’s secretary-general, noting, “It’s clear that soon he won’t bear responsibility for these words, but this is an extremely provocative and dangerous stance.”
Differences Among Allies
Stoltenberg, for his part, reiterated in an interview with British radio station LBC on Monday that he supports efforts to allow Ukraine to use Western long-range weapons against targets in Russia, as requested by President Zelensky. However, he emphasized that each NATO ally would need to make that decision individually. “Allies have different policies on this,” he noted.
Despite Zelensky’s pleas, the U.S. and the U.K. have yet to decide whether to give Kyiv the green light to use these missiles. Meanwhile, Moscow claims that the decision was made “a long time ago,” though no official confirmations have been made.
