Stoltenberg warns Russia against using chemical weapons in Ukraine

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this in Brussels on Thursday before the NATO summit, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"Any use of chemical weapons would fundamentally change the nature of the conflict. It will be a blatant violation of international law and it will have widespread and severe consequences. The seriousness of using chemical weapons of course becomes even more obvious knowing that there is a risk always for contamination, for that chemical agents are spread over bigger areas. So this will be a catastrophe for the people of Ukraine, but of course, there is also a risk that we can see the spread of chemical agents also into NATO territory. I will not speculate beyond the fact that NATO is always ready to defend, to protect and to react to any type of attack on a NATO Allied country," Stoltenberg said.

He noted that attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure are a clear violation of humanitarian law. In this context, he welcomed the launch of an investigation by the International Criminal Court, which should provide a legal assessment of such actions by the aggressor country.

On February 24, Russia launched unprovoked military aggression against Ukraine, which was met with fierce opposition from the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the entire nation.

Three summits will be held in Brussels on March 24 - in NATO, in the EU and in the G7 format, which will focus on responding to the crisis provoked by Putin's war against Ukraine.