France and Germany announced that Ukraine should be allowed to use their weapons to strike targets inside Russia that are being used to attack Ukraine. This comes as both nations emphasized that these strikes should focus solely on military bases launching attacks against Ukraine.
During a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that French-supplied long-range missiles can be used against Russian bases attacking Ukrainian territory. “Ukrainian soil is being attacked from bases in Russia,” Macron said. “We think that we should allow them to neutralize the military sites from which the missiles are fired.”
Macron clarified that while military targets launching attacks on Ukraine are fair game, other targets in Russia, including civilian areas, should not be hit.
Scholz echoed Macron’s sentiments, asserting Ukraine’s right to defend itself under international law, as long as it follows the conditions set by the weapon-supplying countries, including the United States.
This stance marks a significant shift from the Western policy of limiting Ukraine’s use of donated weapons to its own territory, driven by fears of escalating the conflict into a broader war involving NATO. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly requested permission from allies to strike within Russia using Western-supplied weapons.
The United States, the largest arms supplier to Ukraine, has so far forbidden Ukraine from using its weapons to strike inside Russian territory due to concerns about escalating the conflict. However, recent comments from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggest a potential shift in this policy. Blinken mentioned that the US would continue to “adapt and adjust” its support for Ukraine as the situation evolves.
Despite these changes, Blinken reiterated that the US has not authorized Ukraine to strike beyond its borders with American weapons. “We haven’t encouraged or enabled strikes outside of Ukraine. Ukraine has to make its own decisions about the best way to effectively defend itself,” he said.
Western countries have crossed previous red lines in their support for Ukraine, such as providing tanks and F-16 fighter jets after months of pressure. France has supplied Ukraine with SCALP cruise missiles, which have a range of up to 155 kilometers and can carry a 400-kilogram high-explosive warhead. The SCALP is similar to Britain’s Storm Shadow missiles, which Ukraine can use at its discretion, according to British officials.
Macron emphasized that French arms should be used only against military targets launching attacks into Ukraine. “We must not allow them to hit other targets in Russia,” he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Ukraine could not use long-range weapons effectively without significant NATO support, implying that such involvement could trigger a global conflict. Putin emphasized the risks for smaller European countries involved in these discussions.
In a show of support, Belgium pledged to supply Ukraine with 30 F-16 fighter jets over the next four years, starting this year, as part of a security agreement that includes over $1 billion in military aid. This follows a similar agreement between Ukraine and Spain, with Spain committing $1.08 billion in weapons aid.
These moves reflect a growing commitment from European countries to support Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression.
