Since the beginning of war between Ukraine and Russia on February the 24th, 2022, NATO members and European countries have been allies with Ukraine in defending itself. From UN resolutions, economic, commercial and military sanctions, to weapon supplies, the West has shown its total support for Ukraine. Nonetheless, Ukraine has not been allowed to use these military supplies. There were concerns over the escalation of tension and war between Russia and NATO members that risks leading to a global conflict.
Two years later, in late May 2024, France, the United States and Germany has allowed Ukraine to use the supplied weapons for self-defense. France has agreed to train Ukrainian soldiers in France and to provide more military arms like the Mirage 2005. France also has allowed Ukraine to use western weapons. The US, under pressure of key allies and advisors, has also allowed Ukraine to use American weapons in its counter attacks on Russia. As well as Germany, who joined its allies in allowing Ukraine using western weapons to defend itself. NATO members are gradually easing their conditions on the use of their weapons by Ukraine on its counter attacks on Russia, but only the military sites, from which Russian attacks are being launched, in order to neutralize it, like Belgorod, and not to target other villages, civilians or any other military site.
In response, Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin has threatened NATO members and the Western allies that if Russian territories are targeted, they will attack both military weapons and sites on Ukrainian soil, and also trainers considered as a Russian target. Putin has also warned small populated European countries of the stakes, threatening that the war can escalate becoming a global conflict. However, NATO’s General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg, has stated that Russia is, like always, attempting to prevent NATO’s members from supporting Ukraine in defending itself. But these attempts do not represent a threat for NATO.