Reactions to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis

NATO foreign ministers meet in Prague on Thursday in the face of growing calls for leading allies to lift restrictions stopping Kiev from using Western weapons to strike inside Russia.

The two-day gathering in the Czech capital is meant to focus on efforts to hammer out a package of support for Ukraine at NATO's summit in Washington in July.

The United States has declared its opposition to Ukraine using American weaponry to target Russia, as tensions escalate following Vladimir Putin's warning against such actions. The White House issued this statement shortly after Putin cautioned that employing Western arms to strike deep into Russian territory could escalate into a global conflict.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated today that Ukraine should conduct presidential elections following the conclusion of President Volodymyr Zelensky's five-year term, according to Reuters. However, elections are not planned due to an earlier decision, deemed appropriate by Zelensky and his allies given the wartime circumstances.

Poland's Foreign Minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, has suggested that Poland should not dismiss the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine, as reported by Reuters on Tuesday. However, Sikorski did not specify the potential role that Polish troops would play in Ukraine.

President Rumen Radev, while visiting Switzerland, expressed concerns about the declarations stating Bulgaria will not send troops to Ukraine, saying they mean nothing if another NATO country provokes a direct confrontation with Russia. He emphasized that there is a noticeable escalation in both rhetoric and actions.

From Sofia, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly issued a strong appeal to the governments of the Alliance member countries to bolster their support for Ukraine. This call to action was made clear during a forum preceding the NATO summit in Washington.

The NATO Parliamentary Assembly has adopted a declaration permitting Ukraine to use Western military aid to strike targets within Russian territory. This decision was made during the plenary session in Sofia, with the majority of delegates supporting the measure despite nine opposing votes.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized the need for NATO to play a greater role in coordinating and planning military assistance to Ukraine, along with committing to a multi-year financial framework to support Kyiv.

NATO appears to be on the verge of sending troops to Ukraine, according to a report by the New York Times. The troops will train Ukrainian soldiers, a move expected to deepen US and European involvement in the conflict.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia is prepared if the West chooses to engage in a conflict over Ukraine. Lavrov made these remarks during a parliamentary hearing discussing the formation of the new government.