Germany allows Ukraine to strike targets in Russia with German weapons – POLITICO

Ukraine “has the right, guaranteed by international law, to defend itself against these attacks,” he added. “To do this, it can use the weapons provided for this purpose in accordance with its international legal obligations, including those we provide.”

In recent days, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has emphasized Ukraine's right to defend itself by striking targets in Russia in accordance with international law, but has remained vague on whether Berlin had given Ukraine permission to use weapons supplied by Germany to do this.

Scholz has so far refused to send Ukraine its long-range Taurus cruise missiles, which could be used to strike deep into Russian territory, arguing that this could bring Germany into direct confrontation with Russia. But Germany has supplied other weapons systems that could potentially be used to strike targets in Russia near the city of Kharkiv, including self-propelled howitzers and Mars II rocket launchers.

In recent weeks, NATO leaders have debated whether to allow Ukraine to use Western weapons to strike military targets in Russia. Ukrainian leaders have argued that restrictions on how they can use these weapons have allowed the Russians to attack Ukraine from Russian territory with little threat of retaliation.

Although Washington's recent decision marks a policy reversal, the Biden administration still refuses to allow Ukraine to use U.S. cruise missiles to strike deep into Russian territory, fearing that such attacks would escalate the war.

Today's German announcement follows a familiar pattern, in which Berlin waits for Washington to act first on military aid to Ukraine before following suit. Last year's decision to supply combat tanks to kyiv followed the same dynamic.

German politicians from all sides welcomed today's announcement. Previous restrictions on the use of German weapons to hit targets in Russia had “served Putin in his war”, Green Bundestag member Robin Wagener told the POLITICO Brussels Decoded newsletter.