The global debate regarding the use of Western weapons on Ukrainian soil does not subside. The recent statements by the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, triggered the reaction of the alliance partners and also produced a sort of mystery. Faced with the secretary's openness to the possibility of allowing Kiev to use weapons supplied by allies to directly attack military targets on Russian territory, a NATO “source” defined Stoltenberg's words as “unusual”. In fact, disavowing it.
“This is an important contribution to the discussion, which is ongoing, but his role is not to give guidelines to allies“, adds the source. Also because it is the states that provide the system on a bilateral level that decide how far the individual weapons can hit. The allies, since the beginning of the conflict, have “agreed” that NATO would never become “part of the war”. And certainly allowing the use of Western missiles on Russian soil increases the risk of direct involvement, as Moscow does not fail to point out at every turn. Stoltenberg, however, reiterated today in Sofia that Kiev's “right to self-defense” “includes the possibility of striking legitimate military targets outside Ukraine.” “The time has come to consider eliminating some of the existing restrictions – he added – We see that in the Kharkiv area the front line and the border are almost in the same place, and Ukraine cannot attack military targets on the Russian territory. This means that the Ukrainians' hands are tied. They are attacked from Russian territory and cannot respond because there are restrictions on the use of weapons.”
In Italy, the reaction was colorful, with the Prime Minister Georgie Melons who, while underlining Italy's support for Ukraine, criticized Stoltenberg's statements for the risk of escalation they entail. Other Italian politicians have also expressed concern about a possible increase in military involvement, reflecting the variety of opinions present both at European and domestic level on the topic. Stoltenberg “should have been more prudent, it is not up to him to make decisions of this type”, said the Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, interviewed via video link at the “Sky TG24 Live In” event underway at Palazzo Reale in Milan. Tajani was clear: “We are not at war with Russia, we will not send an Italian soldier to fight in Ukraine. Ukrainians know well that all our military tools they have received and will receive they cannot be used outside Ukrainian territory“.
For Matteo Salvini, however, Stoltenberg would even be “dangerous” because “talking about the Third World War, about Western, European and Italian weapons going to strike and kill in the heart of Russia, seems very, very dangerous and reckless to me. So whoever can stop it.” Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, however, pointed out that “there is no NATO secretary or one nation that decides the line for all the others”.
Meanwhile, the government German he does not intend to change his position. And he reiterates his “no” to the idea of creating a Western defense shield against Russian air attacks. “From our point of view, this would be an involvement, a direct involvement in this conflict. And this is something we are not aiming for,” said government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit in Berlin, as reported by the Zdf.