Ukraine's operation in Kursk region is legitimate, even though Kyiv did not notify NATO - Stoltenberg

In an interview with the German weekly Welt am Sonntag, Stoltenberg stated, "Ukraine has a right to defend itself. And according to international law, this right does not stop at the border."

He added that NATO was not informed in advance about Ukraine's plans and did not play any role in them.

However, Stoltenberg noted that while Ukraine is taking risks by advancing into Russian territory, it is up to Kyiv to decide how to conduct its military campaign.

"(Ukrainian) President (Volodymyr) Zelenskyy has made clear that the operation aims to create a buffer zone to prevent further Russian attacks from across the border. Like all military operations, this comes with risks. But it is Ukraine's decision how to defend itself," he said.

Kursk operation

It should be noted that one of the goals of the Ukrainian operation in Russia's Kursk region is to establish a buffer zone to prevent shelling of Ukrainian territory from the border area of Russia. This effort comes as Western partners have refused to permit Kyiv to strike military targets within Russia using the long-range weapons provided by the West.

At the same time, Ukraine has intensified pressure on its Western allies to secure authorization for such strikes.

The Ukrainian authorities are preparing to present a list of high-value targets within Russia to US national security officials, outlining which targets the Ukrainian Armed Forces could hit if Washington lifts the restrictions.

According to Politico, the refusal is driven by Washington's reluctance to jeopardize US national security for the sake of Ukraine. Ultimately, the US may want to reset relations with Moscow, and lifting the restrictions on strikes could undermine these efforts.