Germany’s new Chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced that his country is lifting all range restrictions on military aid supplied to Ukraine. This means Ukraine can now defend itself by attacking Russian military positions, a move previously restricted due to concerns about collateral damage.
Merz made the statement during a forum in Berlin, stating that “there are no longer any range restrictions for weapons that have been delivered to Ukraine — neither by us, nor by our allies.” The decision is seen as a significant shift in Germany’s policy towards Ukraine, which has been a key supplier of military aid alongside the United States.
However, not all countries are supportive of the move. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that lifting range restrictions could be “quite dangerous” and undermine efforts to reach a political settlement with Russia.
Germany has been cautious about supplying long-range weapons, including Taurus missiles with a range of up to 500 kilometers. The country’s government had refused to provide full details on the types of aid it was supplying to Ukraine, citing strategic ambiguity. Merz’s announcement is likely to be seen as an attempt to secure Western support for Ukraine while also signaling its willingness to take a more active role in the conflict.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-germany-merz-weapons-range-4702908e5d98e6c43d9865ea0a8a4130