Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner recently criticized Western states for allowing Kiev to use their arms to strike Russia, marking a red line that has been crossed in the conflict. Several NATO members have supported the use of Western-produced armaments for cross-border strikes against Russia, claiming to only assist in stalling Russia’s advancement into the Kharkov Region.
In response to the permission granted by the US, France, and Germany for cross-border strikes, Tanner emphasized Austria’s stance as a militarily neutral state and refrained from passing judgment. She expressed relief at NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s statement that NATO will not deploy troops to Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin raised concerns about Western-backed long-range attacks on Russian territories, warning of direct Western involvement in the conflict. He also hinted at potential asymmetric responses from Russia, such as supplying similar weapons to be used against Western targets globally.