NATO allies should "consider" lifting restrictions on the use of
NATO weapons by
Ukraine to hit targets in Russian territory, the alliance's secretary general said on Thursday.
"I believe that the time has come to consider some of these
restrictions to enable the Ukrainians to really defend themselves,"
Jens Stoltenberg said in a speech in Prague, ahead of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers.
Some
NATO countries supply arms to
Ukraine without restrictions, but others stipulate they must only be used against targets on Ukrainian territory.
Stoltenberg said that as the war has moved closer to the Russian frontier,
Russia has been able to attack Ukrainian forces from both sides of the border.
He also highlighted shortcomings in
NATO support so far. "Over the last months, we have seen serious delays in the provision of ammunition military support, and serious gaps, for instance, when it comes to
air defence and ammunition," Stoltenberg said.
