NATO chief reiterates Ukraine's right to strike 'legitimate military targets' inside Russia

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - The NATO secretary-general on Friday said Ukraine has the right for self-defense, including strike legitimate military targets inside Russia.

"Ukraine must be able to hit back and to defend themselves. This is part of the right for self defense," Jens Stoltenberg told at the doorstep of the Foreign Ministers Meeting in the Czech capital Prague.

Saying that it is Russia who started the war and "violated international law," the NATO chief reminded that Russia continues to escalate the situation as it just opened new front on the northeastern border.

"What I have stated many times is that we need to remember this is a war of aggression. Russia has attacked another country, violated international law, invaded Ukraine and Ukraine has the right for self-defense and that includes also the right to strike legitimate military targets inside Russia."

He went on to say that the borderline on the frontline is "more or less the same," adding Ukraine's right for self-defense, including right to strike military targets inside Russia is "even more urgent," due to the new attacks into the Kharkiv region.

Asked about reports that US President Joe Biden has granted Ukraine secret approval to use US-supplied weapons to strike inside of Russia, the NATO chief said he welcomes that NATO allies are providing support to Ukraine in many different ways, but adding he "will not go into the details about exactly what type of support they are getting."

US permission is intended to help Kyiv better defend against Russian attacks on Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, the Politico news website reported on Thursday, citing two Biden administration officials, and two people familiar with the matter.