Bundestag defense chair backs Germany’s decision to allow Ukraine to strike Russian military targets

Amid Russia’s offensive in Kharkiv Oblast and increased attacks on civilians, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Chair of the Bundestag’s Defense Committee, welcomed Germany’s policy change allowing Ukraine to use German-supplied weapons against Russian military targets. She emphasized that this decision “should have happened much earlier.”

In an interview with the dpa news agency on June 4, Strack-Zimmermann expressed support for the German government's new stance, which permits Ukraine to target Russian military sites using German-supplied weapons, as reported by DW.

As Russia intensified its offensive in Kharkiv Oblast and civilian attacks, Ukraine requested permission from allies to strike Russian territory with Western-supplied weapons. This prompted a debate among the US and EU countries, with many eventually lifting restrictions on weapon use.

Strack-Zimmermann stressed that international law allows for targeted defensive attacks, giving Ukrainians the right to defend themselves with German-provided weapons and materials. She clarified that this applies solely to military targets and reiterated that the decision “should have happened much earlier.”

The defense committee chair outlined two measures for Ukraine to defend its territory. Firstly, Ukraine needs air defense systems to intercept planes, drones, and missiles. Secondly, Ukraine should be able to destroy Russian military positions from which attacks are launched to prevent further aggression.

Strack-Zimmermann criticized the Chancellor’s advisers for excluding these measures, which she said led Vladimir Putin to believe that massive Russian attacks on Ukraine could occur without an appropriate response and without the war reaching Russian territory.

She noted that Germany has already provided air defense systems like IRIS-T and Patriot but called for greater participation from other European countries.

Strack-Zimmermann also supported supplying German Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, arguing that these weapons are necessary to destroy Russian supply routes and prevent a breakthrough in Kharkiv Oblast.

On May 10, Russian forces launched a new offensive in Kharkiv Oblast, targeting the city of Vovchansk. However, Ukrainian forces stabilized the situation on the Kharkiv front and initiated a counteroffensive in some areas.

On May 31, the German government announced it would allow Ukraine to use German-supplied weapons to strike targets within Russia but will not resume debates on providing Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles.

The UK, Poland, Lithuania, Canada, Latvia, the Netherlands, Sweden, Czechia, France, and Finland support Ukraine's right to strike Russian territory in self-defense.