NATO's new chief advocates Ukrainian strikes deep into Russia

Mark Rutte, the new NATO secretary general who took office, supported the decision of NATO member states to provide the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) with Western long-range weapons for strikes deep inside Russia.

He also noted that each country of the Alliance can independently decide on this issue, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

“Ukraine has the right to defend itself, as international law states, such defence does not end at the borders... This also means the right to hit legitimate targets on the territory of the aggressor,” Rutte said.

In addition, the new NATO chief clarified that the decision to lift restrictions on strikes deep into Russian territory “is made by individual allies.”

Rutte said the situation on the battlefield was "difficult" and Russia had made "limited" gains this year but at a high cost. He said he had seen estimates that 1,000 Russian soldiers were recently being killed or wounded every day.

"We have to make sure that Ukraine prevails as a sovereign, independent, democratic nation," he said.

Signalling continuity with Stoltenberg, Rutte said he had three main priorities - making sure NATO had the capabilities to protect against any threat, supporting Ukraine and addressing global challenges by working with partners "near and far".

As Western leaders continue to assert that NATO is a defensive alliance, the Kremlin maintains that the organization poses a significant threat to Russia's security. Following the appointment of Mark Rutte as NATO's Secretary-General, the Kremlin expressed scepticism regarding the potential for improved relations with the alliance.

In the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, NATO has dramatically increased its military presence along its eastern flank, deploying thousands of additional troops and revamping its defence strategies to address the renewed threat from Moscow more seriously than at any time since the Cold War.

One of Rutte's primary responsibilities will be to galvanize NATO members to fulfil the alliance's new defence plans, which require significant increases in troop numbers, weapons, and defence spending. According to diplomats and analysts, achieving these objectives is crucial for NATO's readiness and effectiveness in the current geopolitical climate.

"We have to invest more and close the capability gaps and try to achieve all the targets NATO has set here," Rutte emphasized, highlighting the urgent need for collective action among member states to bolster NATO's defences.

By Khagan Isayev