2024-08-31T14:25:00+03:00 War in Ukraine 2024-09-24T04:00:02+03:00

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NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg for first time comments on Defense Forces of Ukraine offensive in Kursk Ob

NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg for first time comments on Defense Forces of Ukraine offensive in Kursk Oblast

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, in his first statement regarding the offensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the russia's Kursk Oblast, emphasized that this operation corresponds to Ukraine's right to self-defense.

Stoltenberg made such a comment in an interview with Welt am Sonntag.

NATO Secretary General reminded that russia has been waging an unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine for more than 900 days and since then "has carried out numerous attacks from the Kursk Oblast across the border against Ukraine."

"Russian soldiers, tanks and bases are legal targets according to international law... And, according to international law, this right (to self-defense. - Ed.) does not end at the border (with russia. - Ed.)," he stated.

Stoltenberg admitted that the operation of the Armed Forces in the Kursk Oblast is associated with risks, "but it is up to Ukraine to decide how to defend itself."

The Secretary General of the Alliance also rejected the kremlin's accusation that the West was allegedly informed in advance about the attack on russian territory.

"Ukraine did not coordinate its planning of the Kursk offensive operation with NATO in advance. In this sense, NATO did not play any role," Stoltenberg emphasized.