BERLIN: Ukraine acted within its rights by launching a surprise offensive into Russia’s Kursk region as an act of self-defence, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told the German newspaper Die Welt.
The August 6 operation, which reportedly captured dozens of settlements and more than 1,200 square kilometers (nearly 500 square miles) of territory, caught the Kremlin off guard.
“Ukraine has a right to defend itself, and international law does not restrict this right to its own borders,” Stoltenberg said in an interview with Die Welt published on Saturday. “Russian soldiers, tanks, and bases in Kursk are legitimate targets under international law.”
Stoltenberg also said that Ukraine’s offensive surprised its allies, as Kyiv did not share its plans with NATO, which played no role in the operation. He praised Germany for its commitment to being Ukraine’s largest European military donor and the second-largest worldwide, despite upcoming cuts to aid in next year’s budget.
The decision has faced criticism, but Chancellor Olaf Scholz has assured that Germany will continue to provide essential equipment to the Ukrainian military.
Despite the Kursk offensive, the front lines in eastern Ukraine remain largely unchanged. Russia has continued to claim small advances, including the capture of three villages on Friday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has acknowledged the “extremely difficult” situation near the strategic hub of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, where Russian forces are advancing.
