Merk made an ambiguous statement regarding the possibility of deploying long-range weapons against Russia: restrictions lifted a few months ago
Senior German politician and Federal Defense Minister Friedrich Merz, during his visit to Finland on Tuesday, made a sensational statement about the possibility of Ukraine using long-range weapons to strike deep into Russia. At the same time, he clarified that the decision to lift restrictions on the use of such weapons has long been made not only by the German government but also by other leading Western countries – the USA, Britain, and France. This came as a surprise to many analysts and signaled a change in the long-standing limitations on providing Ukraine with high-range military systems, a debate that has been ongoing for several months. The source of this information is the reputable publication "European Pravda," citing the German outlet Die Zeit, which confirmed that the policy shift has already been implemented. According to Merz, this step was discussed and decided upon months ago, and in his words, he clearly stated: “In this sense, I described yesterday in Berlin what has been happening for several months.” Therefore, it can be concluded that, practically since the beginning of the year, an official permission for Ukraine to use long-range military systems has already existed, although it has not been publicly announced. In Berlin, there is an understanding that Ukraine should be granted the right to strike military targets within Russia’s territory, as it is important for strengthening Ukraine’s defenses and reducing Russian military presence in the conflict zone. This stance reinforces the position of Western allies in the context of continuing military support for Ukraine. Previously, on May 26 of this year, during Merz’s speech, it was noted that special restrictions on the range of weapons use do not apply to supplies already delivered. He mentioned that, in particular, the German weapons already supplied are not subject to existing range limitations. At the same time, Ukraine continues to request the delivery of high-tech Taurus missiles with long-range capabilities, and this issue remains one of the main topics of military cooperation between Kyiv and Berlin. It is worth adding that in response to Merz’s words, his deputy, Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil, emphasized on Thursday that there are currently no new agreements within the government coalition to lift existing restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons. This hinted that the official government position remains reserved and cautious. Currently, there is an ongoing discussion within the German government regarding the delivery of Taurus missiles. Despite Merz’s open support for this idea, the official stance remains uncertain, and the government is trying not to disclose its current plans for military aid to Ukraine to avoid additional tensions or political conflicts domestically. Thus, Friedrich Merz's words are an indication of a relative liberalization in approaches to military support for Ukraine amid the Russia-Ukraine war. At the same time, this step raises serious questions about the limits of this support, since the open possibility of striking deep into Russia already effectively exists, although it is not publicly declared in full. The so-called "lifting of restrictions" remains one of the most controversial topics in diplomatic circles and could lead to new challenges for European Union and NATO diplomacy in the future.