Berlin will consider the possibility of enabling Ukraine to strike Russian territory with firearms provided by Germany, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said at a briefing in Odesa, Ukrinform reported.
The US and Germany are the largest providers of military aid to Ukraine. Both sides have repeatedly said Ukraine should not use their weapons to strike Russian territory because of concerns it would escalate the war.
Politico reported that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz now "supports allowing the use of Western weapons against targets on Russian soil," citing a person familiar with the German government's position.
At a May 28 press conference, Scholz said Ukraine could use German-supplied weapons "within international law," which does not prohibit strikes on Russian soil. However, the German government has not given explicit and public permission to Kyiv to do so.
Pistorius recalled at the press conference in Odesa that Scholz had "clearly" given his position on the use of weapons provided by Germany within the framework of international law by Ukraine.
"This is something we will consider," the minister said in response to a question about Kyiv's permission to strike Russian soil with German-supplied weapons.
Pistorius also said that bilateral agreements "should not be discussed publicly to draw some 'red lines' in terms of what is allowed and what is not."
Calls for Ukraine to be allowed to strike military targets on Russian soil with Western weapons intensified after Russia launched a new offensive in the Kharkiv region on May 10, reportedly involving 30,000 troops.
Kyiv has said it is unable to launch pre-emptive strikes against Russian forces massing on the border because of restrictions on how Western weapons can be used. /BGNES
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