West lifts Ukraine's long-range arms restrictions, Russia slams move
3 Min Read
The lifting of restrictions allows strikes against military targets deep into Russia.
-
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, and the now-German Chancellor Friedrich Merz talk during their meeting in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024 (AP)
Western allies have lifted all restrictions on Ukraine's use of supplied long-range weapons, allowing Kiev to strike Russian military targets without limitations, the German chancellor said on Monday.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that Western allies are no longer imposing any range restrictions on Ukraine's use of supplied long-range weapons against Russian military targets, emphasizing that the lifting of limitations applies not only to German-delivered arms but to all weapons provided by allied nations.
"There are no longer any restrictions on the range of weapons delivered to Ukraine, neither by the UK, France, nor us. There are no restrictions by the US either," the German Chancellor announced during a discussion forum organized by WDR.
'Rather dangerous decisions'
On his part, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the Europeans' intention to lift the restriction on the supply of long-range weapons to Kiev "rather dangerous".
"Rather dangerous decisions, again, if there were any," Peskov told Life correspondent Alexander Yunashev.
Such a decision is contrary to Russia's aspirations for settlement in Ukraine, Peskov added.
Ukraine set to strike targets inside Russia
Through the lifting, Merz noted that Ukraine now can "defend itself", including by striking military targets inside Russia, whereas until recently, it had been unable to do so and had not carried out such attacks with a very few exceptions.
The German chancellor added that this situation was among the key reasons behind his joint visit to Kiev with the leaders of France, Britain, and Poland on May 10, where he also announced that all forthcoming discussions regarding weapons deliveries to Ukraine would be conducted under strict confidentiality.
Previously, Ukraine had obtained long-range missiles from the United States, Britain, and France, but was restricted to targeting only Russian military forces within occupied areas of Ukraine.
Regarding Germany's position, Merz had indicated even before assuming office that he would reverse the policy of his predecessor, Olaf Scholz, who had prohibited the transfer of Germany's Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, despite their capability to hit targets up to 500 kilometers away.
Merz sees prolonged Ukraine war
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz cautioned that the ongoing war in Ukraine continues without any immediate prospects for resolution in a May 21 interview for Bild newspaper, stressing that developments showed no indication of the war concluding soon despite intensified international attempts to revive diplomatic negotiations.
Merz acknowledged potential diplomatic solutions might arise, specifically referencing Vatican-led peace efforts, while observing that all parties involved are exploring every possible avenue for a negotiated end to the hostilities.
He emphasized the importance of Western unity in confronting Russia regarding the Ukraine war, urging both European nations and the United States to maintain a coordinated stance, in remarks made on May 14.
Merz pledged to bolster Berlin's military capabilities to develop Europe's most powerful conventional armed forces, while emphasizing Germany's intention to assume a more significant role within NATO and the EU's strategic confrontation with Moscow, stressing the critical importance of maintaining Western unity and preventing any divisions within the political West.
