Ukraine's use of German weapons to strike Russia will not “contribute to escalation”, says Scholz.

Ukraine's use of weapons supplied by Germany and other Western countries to strike targets in Russia will not “contribute to escalation”, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told Antenne Bayern radio on June 3.

Berlin has long opposed lifting a ban on Ukraine using Western weapons against Russia, but reversed course in late May amid growing calls from Western leaders for the restrictions to be lifted .

A German government spokesperson told Deutsche Welle on May 31 that Ukraine could use weapons supplied by Germany to strike legitimate targets in Russia. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius later clarified that the decision applied to the area around Kharkiv, which has been the center of a new Russian offensive in recent weeks.

This is the first time the chancellor has publicly commented on the government's decision.

“We are confident that this will not contribute to an escalation because, as (US President Joe Biden) also described, it is just about being able to defend a big city like Kharkiv,” Scholz said.

In the past, Scholz has repeatedly cited fear of escalation as one of the main reasons for limiting Germany's support for Ukraine.

“And I think it's clear to everyone that this must be possible. Under international law this has always been possible anyway,” Scholz said.

It's unclear what finally prompted the chancellor to change his mind, but Scholz said he would not allow himself to be “put under pressure to make a decision that is not fair and is not timely “.

After several months of hesitation, the White House partially lifted restrictions on Ukraine's ability to use U.S.-supplied weapons in Russia, but demanded that they be used only on the other side of the border. the border, from Kharkiv Oblast. Additional restrictions on the use of U.S.-supplied long-range weapons remain in effect.

Michael Carpenter, senior director for Europe at the U.S. National Security Council, later said the United States would allow Ukraine to strike targets in Russia across the border. Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts with weapons supplied by the Americans. He also said the ATACMS ban was still in effect.

Read also: Ukraine is urging its allies to lift the Western ban on weapons aimed at targets in Russia. Will they?

We've worked hard to bring you independent, local news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.