Germany is cautiously shifting its stance to permit Ukraine to use German-supplied weapons for defensive actions against Russia, including targeting military sites within Russian territory, as reported by Politico.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the US has provided military aid to Ukraine but has repeatedly asked them not to use US-made weapons to strike Russian territory, fearing an escalation of the conflict. Nonetheless, several European leaders, including NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and French President Emmanuel Macron, have urged President Biden to reconsider these restrictions.
On May 28, Chancellor Olaf Scholz indicated this change in policy, stating that Ukraine could use German arms “within the framework of international law” against an aggressor like Russia, including on Russian soil.
“I find it strange,” Scholz remarked to reporters, “when some people argue that the Ukrainians should not defend themselves and take appropriate measures.”
On May 29, Scholz’s spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit clarified that Ukraine’s “defensive action is not limited to its own territory but can also extend to the territory of the aggressor,” according to Politico. Hebestreit emphasized that detailed agreements with Kyiv regarding the use of German weapons remain confidential.
A source familiar with the German government's position told Politico that Scholz supports using Western weapons for attacks inside Russia, although no further specifics were provided.
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