Why do some European and NATO leaders support Ukrainian strikes on Russia with Western arms?

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday spoke in favor of allowing Ukraine to attack Russian positions inside Russia with Western weapons. "We think that we should allow them to neutralize military sites where missiles are fired, from where ... Ukraine is attacked," Macron said at a joint press conference alongside the German chancellor following talks at Schloss Meseberg near Berlin, the official state guest house of the German Federal Republic. At the same time, he stressed that "we should not allow them to touch other targets in Russia, and obviously civilian capacities. "Macron’s comments came on the third and final day of a state visit to Germany.

Scholz was more cautious, but said he had no legal objections to Macron's approach. He emphasized that as long as Ukraine respected international law and the conditions of countries supplying the weapons, it was "allowed to defend itself." Germany and other countries have made the transfer of weapons to Ukraine subject to strict conditions, such as that they may not be used to attack targets in Russia over fears that would lead to an escalation. Scholz noted recently when saying Germany would not be sending long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine that they would be capable of striking Moscow from Ukrainian territory. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned of "serious consequences" if Western countries allowed Ukraine to use their weapons to strike targets in Russia.

#russiaukrainewar #ukrainianstrikesinrussia

#nato

For more news go to

Follow DW on social media:

Für Videos in deutscher Sprache besuchen Sie

#Ukraine #Russia #NATO