Macron joins NATO, Kiev, says Ukraine should be able to bomb Russia
4 Min Read
French President Emmanuel Macron is one of the latest advocates for allowing Ukraine to attack Russia using Western-supplied weapons amid stark warnings from Moscow.
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French President Emmanuel Macron attends a press conference at the German government guest house in Meseberg, north of Berlin, Germany, May 28, 2024. (AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron, during a state visit to Germany, advocated for Ukraine's right to "neutralize" Russian military bases used to launch missile attacks against Ukraine.
Speaking at a press conference alongside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Macron emphasized that Ukraine should be able to target military sites but cautioned against striking other targets in Russia, especially civilian infrastructure.
"We think that we should allow them to neutralize military sites where missiles are fired, from where Ukraine is attacked," Macron stated. However, he added, "We should not allow them to touch other targets in Russia, and obviously civilian capacities."
Macron's remarks come amid growing calls to permit Ukraine to use Western-supplied longer-range weapons to strike inside Russia. This issue has stirred debate among Kiev's allies, highlighting differences in their approaches to the conflict.
Germany, for instance, has been hesitant to support strikes over the border, concerned about escalating the conflict with Moscow.
Scholz underscored the importance of adhering to international law in the use of weapons supplied to Ukraine, noting, "There are rules for using weapons supplied to Ukraine, and this must always be within the framework of international law."
The Ukrainian armed forces have since the start of the war been using US equipment to strike Russian targets, which Moscow has been condemning for years as an extension of US aggression on Russia, asking that Washington halt arms exports to Ukraine before it goes too far.
NATO, in fact, has joined in, also requesting that Kiev be permitted to strike inside Russia, stressing that Ukraine being denied "the possibility of using these weapons against legitimate military targets on Russian territory makes it very hard for them to defend themselves."
On the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stark warning about "serious consequences" if Western countries enable Ukraine to strike within Russian territory.
"These representatives of NATO countries, especially in Europe, especially in small countries, they should be aware of what they are playing with. They should remember that this is usually a state with a small territory and a very dense population. This is a factor they should keep in mind before striking deep into Russian territory," Putin said during a press conference following his visit to Uzbekistan.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov highlighted the lack of consensus among Western nations, telling Russian daily Izvestia, "We see that there is no consensus on this issue in the Western camp."
Still with that to take into mind, and with the US proclaiming that it did not want to poke the Russian bear, it gave Ukraine last year the 300 km-range ATACMS after having given them the 160-kilometer version, which would allow Ukraine to strike Russian territory.
While the US has been discouraging the use of the weapons to strike behind Russian lines, Kiev has been using them in that manner, attacking Russian logistics and command posts away from the battlefield – this is not to mention the Ukrainian attacks targeting Russian infrastructure and civilian areas, most notable in Crimea.
Read more: Ukraine, NATO pressuring US to allow missile strikes on Russia
