NATO official: Ukraine has legal right to strike deep into Russia

Ukraine has the solid legal and military right to strike deep inside Russia to gain combat advantage, Chair of the NATO Military Committee Admiral Rob Bauer said Saturday.

“Every nation that is attacked has the right to defend itself. And that right doesn’t stop at the border of your own nation,” Bauer, who serves as the principal advisor to NATO's secretary general said, speaking at the close of the committee's annual meeting.

Nations have the sovereign right to put limits on the weapons they send to Ukraine, he added. Lieutenant General Karel Řehka, chief of the Czech Armed Forces General Staff, said his nation places no such weapons restrictions on Kyiv.

“We believe that the Ukrainians should decide themselves how to use it,” Řehka said.

But he also pointed to the political risks and the potential of escalation: "It's important to take into consideration every aspect, including the potential of escalation and other things."

Their comments came as US President Joe Biden is weighing whether to allow Ukraine to use US-provided long-range weapons to hit deep into Russia. And they hint at the divisions over the issue.

Despite continued calls from Kyiv on the West to allow it to strike deeper into Russia, Western leaders still seem hesitant.

Biden met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday after their top diplomats' visit to Kyiv, who came under fresh pressure to loosen weapons restrictions. Discussions on allowing long-range strikes were believed to be on the table, but no decision was announced immediately.

Washington has allowed Ukraine to use US-provided weapons in cross-border strikes to counter attacks by Russian forces. However, it doesn't permit the use of long-range missiles deep into Russia.

Ukrainian President