German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced on Monday that Germanywith France, the United Kingdom and the United States, had lifted restrictions on the range of weapons sent to Ukraine To help in the fight against Russia.
“There are no more restrictions on the scope on the weapons delivered to Ukraine-neither by the British nor by the French neither by us nor by the Americans,” he said at the WDR EuropaForum 2025 at the Re: Publica Digital conference in Berlin.
“This means that Ukraine can now defend itself, for example, by attacking military positions in Russia … with a few exceptions, that has only done so recently. He can now do it,” said Merz.
The chancellor has also reiterated his position in a post on X, adding: “We will do everything in our power to continue supporting Ukraine.”
Merz did not specify which country, including his, had decided for modifications at which stage.
Russia calls for arms decision a “dangerous” movement
The Kremlin responded to the Merz declaration, claiming that the limits of the scope of weapons delivered to Ukraine by the West would be “dangerous”.
“If these decisions have indeed been made, they disagree with our aspirations for a political settlement (of peace) … These are fairly dangerous decisions, if they have been made,” said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, Russian journalist Alexander Yunashev.
Russia has long criticized Western countries for providing Ukraine with long -range weapons. The Kremlin also has warned Germany not to provide Kyiv the Taurus missile system.
Western long -range weapons in Ukraine
At the start of Russia’s large -scale invasion in 2022The West did not provide Ukraine from any large -scale weapon to prevent the conflict from degenerating.
However, the United Kingdom and France have since supplied Kyiv Storm Shadow / Salmip cruise missiles, which have a range of around 250 kilometers (150 miles).
In November 2024, former American president Joe Biden authorized Ukraine to use the army tactical missile system (ATACMS) against targets in Russia.
Still in November, Ukraine dismissed Storm shadow missiles on Russia for the first time after receiving London approval, according to British media. At the time, France also reiterated that strikes on military targets within Russia were an option.
Merz made no mention of the bull
The previous German government, led by Center-Gauche Chancellor Olaf Scholz, strongly supported Kyiv, however abstained from sending long -range bullfighting missiles With their range of 500 kilometers for fear of degenerating tensions with Russia’s nuclear energy.
Merz previously expressed support for delivery of the Taurus missile system. However, on Monday, he did not specify if Germany would do it or if he referred to other weapons systems.
The new government has stressed that he will no longer reveal which weapons he sends to Ukraine, rather adopting a position of strategic ambiguity.
Russia has warned that it would consider potential Ukrainian strikes on transport infrastructure with Taurus German manufacturing missiles as a “direct participation” by Berlin in the conflict.
Published by: Jenipher Camino Gonzalez
