New NATO Secretary General wants to lift restrictions on Ukraine for deep attacks in Russia (953rd day of war)
NATO’s new secretary general, Mark Rutte, has increased pressure on Western countries that hesitate to allow Ukraine to use advanced weaponry to attack military targets deep within Russia. During an unannounced visit to Kiev, just 48 hours after assuming leadership of NATO, Rutte stated, in a press conference, alongside the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, that “Ukraine obviously has the right to defend itself, and international law here is on Ukraine’s side.”
Ukraine’s right to self-defense, according to Rutte, “does not end at the border, and Russia pursues an illegal war,” meaning that “attacking Russian fighter jets and missiles before they can be used against Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure could help save lives.”
The US, Germany and some European countries fear that this could lead to an escalation directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Moscow recently revised its doctrine on the use of nuclear weapons to increase the threat.
According to the “Politico”Rutte’s support for Kiev on this issue comes ahead of a crucial summit on October 12, which will be led by US President Joe Biden. Washington has been under pressure to lift restrictions ahead of a difficult winter ahead for Ukraine, with most energy infrastructure likely to be targeted by Russia.
“The only country here that crossed the red line was not Ukraine; it was Russia, when it started this war,” Rutte stressed. Zelensky said that some NATO countries “are prolonging the process”, although he did not list which states he was referring to. “The best way not to forget Ukraine is to provide weapons, secure the respective permissions and help shoot down Iranian missiles and drones, just as they are being shot down in the skies over Israel,” said Zelensky.
Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters
Other news to highlight:
⇒ The Portuguese Government downplayed threats from the Russian Government that there will be “retaliations” against Portugal for the delivery of ‘Kamov’ helicopters to Ukraine, accusing the Kremlin of carrying out “some ‘bullying'” towards European countries. “We are already used to the Kremlin spokesperson from time to time doing some ‘bullying’ about Portuguese positions, but not only that, she distributes them to the different European countries in turn”, commented today the Minister of State and Foreign Affairs , Paulo Rangel, during the parliamentary debate on the Hungarian presidency of the Council of the European Union and Portugal’s participation in the process of European construction.
⇒ The president-elect of the European Council, António Costa, stated that he must “prepare now” for the enlargement of the European Union, because the community bloc must have the conditions to welcome whoever it invites. “We have to prepare for this [o alargamento]. It must be now. When we will reach an agreement, I don’t know. But we must be able to welcome whoever we invite”, said Costa, referring to the planned inclusion of Moldova and Ukraine in the EU.
⇒ The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed the seizure of the Ukrainian city of Vugledar, opening the way for control of southern Donbass by the Moscow army. “As a result of the resolute actions of the units of the Vostok (East) military grouping, the city of Vugledar was liberated from the Donetsk People’s Republic,” reads a military statement published on Telegram.
