German weapons strike on Russian territory will aid Ukraine's defense of major cities, not escalate conflict – Scholz
Photo: AP
German strikes within Russian territory will not escalate the conflict, instead giving Ukraine the ability to defend its major cities.
According to DW, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said this on Antenne Bayern radio.
As the head of the German government emphasized, the decision to allow Ukraine to use German weapons for attacks on the Russian Federation was carefully thought out in cooperation with "friends and allies" of Germany.
At the same time, the German chancellor assured that he would never allow pressure to be applied to him to persuade him to make "wrong and untimely decisions."
"We are convinced that this will not lead to escalation because – as the US president said – the question is only about being able to protect such large cities as, for example, Kharkiv," the Chancellor emphasized.
It should be noted that at the end of May, Germany allowed the Defense Forces of Ukraine to carry out strikes on Russian territory "in accordance with international law", but only on the border territories of the Russian Federation near the Kharkiv region.
Before this, Chancellor of Germany Scholz opposed the use of German weapons for attacks on the territory of the Russian Federation, stressing that there are "clear rules for the supply of German weapons, which were agreed with Ukraine and which are working."
Earlier, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius explained Berlin's decision to allow Ukraine to use German weapons against military facilities in Russia as a "strategic adjustment to the changing situation."
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It should be noted that after the start of a new offensive by Russian troops in the Kharkiv region, some European countries started a campaign to ease restrictions on the use of weapons transferred to Ukraine.
In turn, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also emphasized that Ukraine's use of Western weapons against Russian targets would not make NATO part of the conflict. The head of the Alliance has redoubled efforts to urge allies to lift restrictions on hitting targets in Russia.
The US Helsinki Commission also stated that the United States of America should allow Ukraine to strike with American weapons against the forces of the Russian Armed Forces in the border areas of Russia. However, the Pentagon said that American weapons are intended for use on the territory of Ukraine.
On May 28, the Prime Minister of Belgium explained during a press conference that the 30 F-16 fighter jets that Belgium has pledged to hand over to Ukraine can only be used on Ukrainian territory. The same applies to other weapons provided for in the security agreement.
Which countries supported Kyiv regarding the use of Western weapons on the territory of Russia:
- Sweden allowed Ukraine to use its weapons to attack the Russian Federation.
- Poland supported Ukraine's right to use Western weapons to attack Russia.
- The Czech Republic supported using partners' weapons for defense in the aggressor's territory.
- The Netherlands supported strikes on the territory of the Russian Federation with Western weapons.
- Ukraine can attack the territory of the Russian Federation with the help of weapons provided by Finland.
- Moreover, permission to use the transferred weapons for attacks on the territory of the Russian Federation was supported by the Baltic states.
- The Joe Biden administration has eased its policy of forbidding Ukraine from using American weaponry against Russian targets. However, some restrictions still remain in effect.
- Germany has allowed Ukraine's military to conduct attacks on Russian territory but within a restricted area of effect.
- The Netherlands allows Ukraine to use F-16 fighter jets on the territory of the Russian Federation.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, said that the partners have taken a very important and long-awaited step by allowing the use of their weapons on Russian territory, but Ukraine will continue to work on expanding the area of its use.
