In a departure from the stance of U.S. President Joe Biden, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has called for the lifting of restrictions on supplying American weapons to Ukraine for targeting Russian territory. Stoltenberg's position aligns with prominent lawmakers in Washington, including House Speaker Mike Johnson.

In an interview with The Economist, Stoltenberg urged allies to consider the removal of certain restrictions imposed on the supply of arms to Ukraine. Although he did not mention the United States by name, his remarks highlight the need for a reconsideration of current limitations.

A delegation from Ukraine reportedly visited Washington, D.C. this month, advocating for the use of American weapons to strike targets within Russia. At present, such action is prohibited under a U.S. mandate aimed at preventing further escalation.

The reliance of Ukraine on domestically-produced drones to target Russian territory has been a contentious issue, particularly since May 10 when Russia launched an offensive in the northeast Kharkiv region, breaching the border by six miles. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has appealed to the U.S. to reassess its position, citing Russia's exploitation of ammunition and troop shortages.

Stoltenberg emphasized the importance for Ukraine to have access to these weapons to defend themselves effectively against legitimate military targets in Russia. However, when asked for a response to Stoltenberg's comments, the U.S. State Department declined to comment.

Stoltenberg's viewpoint is gaining traction in the United States, with Speaker Johnson endorsing the idea that Kiev should be allowed to prosecute the war as they see fit, emphasizing that micromanaging the effort is not a good policy.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, following his visit to Kyiv, reportedly supports the notion of allowing Ukraine to strike inside Russian territory with American-supplied arms, as reported by The New York Times. Nonetheless, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and President Joe Biden remain opposed to this proposal.

Efforts to change the current policy have also been seen in Congress, with a bipartisan group of congressmen advocating for the Pentagon to revise the restrictions. Additionally, Lithuania's Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis criticized the limitations imposed by the U.S., stating that they were a "mistake."

German lawmaker Anton Hofreiter argued that international law permits Ukraine, as a state under attack, to target the "aggressor's country" using American weapons. However, Stoltenberg made a clear distinction between allowing Ukraine to choose how to utilize Western weapons and direct NATO involvement, as suggested by French President Emmanuel Macron. Stoltenberg reiterated that NATO has no intention of deploying ground troops to Ukraine, emphasizing their role in supporting Kyiv and working to prevent the conflict from escalating further.

It remains to be seen whether the calls to lift restrictions on supplying American weapons to Ukraine will be heeded by NATO allies, as the debate between limited engagement and direct involvement continues to unfold.