Scholz & Macron agree

Kiev may also attack Russian targets

Macron wants to allow the use of Western weapons on Russian territory.

(Bild: AFP)

Both German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron emphasize that Ukraine may also attack targets in Russia in its defensive campaign against the Russian aggressor. Macron, in particular, makes this clear with regard to Western equipment. 

The French head of state wants to allow Ukraine to attack positions in Russia. "We must allow them to neutralize military bases from which missiles are launched," said Macron on Tuesday in Meseberg. However, other targets are taboo. Macron and Scholz did not rule out the possibility of Ukraine being allowed to use weapons supplied by the West.

"Ukraine has all options under international law"
Scholz explained: "Ukraine has every option under international law for what it is doing." It is being attacked and is allowed to defend itself. Western countries, which provided Ukraine with very different weapons systems, had found "all regulations for their use that are based on international law". 

Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened serious consequences should the West give Ukraine the green light to use its weapons against targets in Russia. "This constant escalation can lead to serious consequences", Putin said on Tuesday. Especially "small states" should realize "what they are playing with.

Stoltenberg put pressure on
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had triggered the discussion about the use of Western weapons for attacks on military targets in Russia. At a meeting of EU defense ministers in Brussels on Tuesday, the Norwegian renewed calls for existing restrictions on Ukrainian attacks to be lifted.

It will be very difficult and hard for the Ukrainians to defend themselves, especially in the Kharkiv region, if they cannot hit targets such as artillery positions or airfields on the other side of the border, Stoltenberg explained on the sidelines of the consultations. Some of the fighting in the region was taking place right on the border.

NATO: weapons belong to Ukraine
Stoltenberg and the defense ministers of eastern NATO states emphasized on Tuesday in Brussels that they do not see a major risk of escalation. Stoltenberg pointed out, for example, that weapons donated to Ukraine after the handover are Ukrainian weapons and that some NATO states have always supplied Ukraine with weapons without conditions. He also emphasized that the use of weapons against military targets was covered by Ukraine's right of self-defense.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell also spoke out in favor of the use of Western weapons against targets in Russia on the sidelines of the EU defense ministers' meeting. This was "perfectly possible under the laws of war and not a contradiction in terms". Lifting national restrictions is becoming increasingly important.