The German government has authorized Ukraine to use German-supplied military equipment to strike targets within Russian territory, according to information from SPIEGEL. This policy shift comes in response to Russian advances in the border region of Kharkiv.
Previously, Ukraine was restricted from using Western-supplied weapons to target Russian soil. However, the German government has now decided to relax these rules. This decision follows heightened Russian activity in the Kharkiv area. Ukraine has long pushed for permission to use Western weapons against targets on Russian territory to directly attack installations near the border.
Government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit stated, “Germany has agreed with Ukraine that the weapons we supply will be used in accordance with international law.” He alleged that recent Russian attacks from positions near the Kharkiv border were coordinated and executed from Russian territory. “We are convinced that Ukraine has the internationally recognized right to defend itself against these attacks,” Hebestreit said.
This decision aligns with actions taken by other Western nations. The US government had already quietly permitted Ukraine to use US weapons against Russian targets in limited circumstances, specifically for counterattacks to defend Kharkiv. Reports from Politico and CNN on Thursday highlighted this development.
The Kremlin responded swiftly to the Western announcements, stating it would react asymmetrically to Ukrainian attacks on its territory using US-supplied weapons. It involves using different means and targeting different objectives than those employed by the opposing side.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had called for the right to use Western weapons against Russian territory following the activation of fighting near Kharkiv. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has also advocated for easing restrictions on Ukrainian attacks.
French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed a similar stance. After an appearance with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, there was speculation about a shift in the German government’s position. Scholz, unlike before, indicated that Ukraine was legally justified in attacking positions in Russia.
Sources within the German government suggest that Scholz and other officials avoided clear answers on the matter to not pressure the US administration. The White House and the US State Department deliberated for days on a common approach. The German government awaited the US decision before explicitly giving the green light for the extended use of German weapons.
The opposition has criticized the decision. “I call on Chancellor Scholz to clearly reject the demand to use Western weapons on Russian territory,” said Janine Wissler, leader of the Left Party, before the government’s decision was announced. She described the demands as “irresponsible and highly dangerous,” warning that each Western missile striking Russia increased the risk of uncontrollable escalation.
Fundamentally, it is conceivable that Ukraine could use German-supplied weapons for attacks on Russian territory behind Kharkiv. Military officials noted that both the Panzerhaubitze 2000 and the Mars-II rocket launchers, with ranges between 70 and 85 kilometers, are suitable for such operations. It is also possible that Ukraine could deploy German-supplied air defense systems in the Kharkiv region, although these have not been used close to the front line, according to the German military.
