NATO Secretary General: "Use of Long-Range Missiles in Ukraine Should Be Decided by Each Country"

Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), stated on the 16th (local time) that the decision to allow Western long-range missiles in Ukraine should be made by individual allied countries.

In an interview with the UK’s LBC radio on the same day, Secretary General Stoltenberg said regarding the easing of restrictions on Ukraine’s use of Western long-range missiles, "We welcome these developments and decisions, but the final decision must be made by individual allied countries," adding, "Allied countries have different policies on this matter."

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General
Photo by AFP Yonhap News

Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, has recently requested allies to allow attacks on Russian mainland using Western long-range missiles such as the US ATACMS and the UK’s Storm Shadow.

US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed whether to permit this during their summit on the 13th, but no related decision has been announced yet.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that if Ukraine is allowed to attack the Russian mainland with Western long-range missiles, the West will be directly fighting Russia.

When asked about the possibility of Russian retaliation, Secretary General Stoltenberg said, "There is no risk-free choice in war," but added, "However, I still believe the greatest risk to us, the UK, and NATO is if President Putin wins in Ukraine."