Germany and the US authorized Ukraine on Friday to target specific locations within Russia using the long-range weaponry they are providing. This major shift in policy occurs as Ukrainian forces, who are facing shortages, continue to lose territory in the conflict.
Germany affirmed Ukraine’s right to defend its territory under international law, specifically highlighting Ukraine’s right to repel attacks emanating from Russian soil. This statement follows increased hostilities near Kharkiv, where Russian forces have been actively preparing, coordinating, and carrying out attacks, according to the German government. Ukraine is authorized to use weapons supplied by Germany to target these aggressions directly at their source, just over the border.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a press conference in Prague on Friday that this move is in response to Russian forces that are “massing on the Russian side of the border” near Kharkiv. When asked whether the US would permit Ukraine to extend its strikes deeper into Russian territory, Blinken responded that the US would continue to “adapt and adjust” as the situation progresses.
While allowing Ukraine to target Russian capabilities in the region could enhance the defense of Kharkiv, the impact of loosening these restrictions on the overall direction of the conflict during a crucial period remains uncertain. However, this decision elicited a vehement reaction from Moscow, with warnings that it might lead to a direct confrontation between Russia and NATO. Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, warned in response to the policy shift that Western countries may be making a “fatal mistake” believing that Russia would refrain from deploying tactical nuclear weapons.
Western leaders have been reluctant to relax restrictions on their weapons due to concerns that it might provoke Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin has consistently warned that direct involvement by Western countries could escalate the situation to a nuclear conflict, posing a risk to global safety.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, speaking on Friday, advocated for removing the constraints on the use of Western-supplied weapons by Ukraine. He justified this stance by emphasizing the importance of “upholding international law – specifically Ukraine’s right to self-defense.”
Friday’s authorization comes as Ukrainian officials report that Moscow’s forces are intensifying their operations in the southern Donetsk region and are gathering troops for a projected assault in the northern Sumy region.
