"The time has come for NATO to review some of the restrictions on Ukraine's use of weapons against Russia," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.
“Allies provide many different types of military support to Ukraine, and some of them have imposed restrictions on the use of these weapons. These are national decisions," Stoltenberg said in Prague ahead of a meeting of alliance foreign ministers.
"In light of the development of the war, the time has come to consider some of these restrictions to enable the Ukrainians to really defend themselves," he stressed, quoted by Reuters.
As Ukrainian leaders urge governments from Berlin to Washington to ease restrictions on arms shipments, Western countries have appeared increasingly divided in recent weeks over whether Ukraine's military can strike targets on Russian soil.
Some of Ukraine's allies, such as Britain, the Baltic states and Denmark, have argued that such strikes are part of legitimate self-defense against invasion, while others have said their weapons can only be used in Ukraine, fearing that striking on the territory of Russia will involve the West in the conflict.
Belgium's prime minister said this week that the F-16 fighter jets his country plans to start sending to Ukraine this year can only be used within Ukraine's borders.
Germany placed similar conditions on the supply of heavy weapons, including Leopard tanks. /BGNES
