NATO asserts no direct involvement in Russia-Ukraine conflict

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has affirmed NATO's support for Ukraine.

"We have increased our support. But NATO's policy is unchanged – we will not be involved in this conflict. We will not become part of the conflict. So we support Ukraine in the destruction of Russian aircraft, but NATO will not be directly involved," he said, Caliber.Az reports citing the Ukrainian media.

Stoltenberg reiterated that Ukraine has the right to attack legitimate military targets on the territory of Russia.

He also mentioned that different countries have imposed different restrictions on the use of the weapons they provide to Ukraine. Additionally, the NATO Secretary General welcomed the US decision to allow Ukraine to use American missiles to strike Russian territory near the border in Kharkiv Oblast.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of a military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The president said that the goals are “demilitarisation” and “denazification” of the neighbouring country, as well as the protection of the civilian population of Donbas from “genocide by Kyiv authorities”. After the outbreak of hostilities, the Ukrainian authorities introduced martial law throughout the country and launched a general mobilisation. The partial mobilisation was announced in Russia in September 2022.