Speaking during a historic, first-ever visit to NATO's new member Sweden on Friday, Stoltenberg reiterated Ukraine's right to defend itself under international law.
"Ukraine has the right to self-defense," Stoltenberg stated at a news conference with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson at a military base near Stockholm.
He elaborated, as quoted by Reuters: "The right to self-defense also includes the right to hit legitimate, military targets on the territory of the attacking party, the aggressor, in this case, Russia."
This week, Russian officials warned that Western nations supplying Ukraine with weapons capable of striking Russian territory should prepare for "asymmetric response", with Putin even suggesting arming the West's adversaries in retaliation.
"This is a war of aggression that Russia has initiated against a peaceful, democratic neighboring country, Ukraine, which has never posed a threat to Russia," Stoltenberg asserted. "There is no question that Ukraine has the right to hit targets on Russian territory."
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Source: Reuters
