Germany Lifts Range Restrictions on Ukraine Weapons, Escalating Tensions with Russia

Germany’s new Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that his country, along with its allies, including the US, UK, and France, has lifted all range restrictions on weapons delivered to Ukraine. This move allows Ukraine to target military positions in Russia, a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. Merz emphasized that this decision demonstrates Germany’s commitment to supporting Ukraine, stating, “We will do everything in our power to continue supporting Ukraine”.

Implications of the Decision
The lifting of range restrictions has sparked concern in Moscow, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warning that such a decision would be “quite dangerous” and undermine efforts to reach a political settlement. Peskov added that if made, these decisions would run “absolutely contrary to our aspirations for reaching a political settlement”. Russia has long criticized Western countries for supplying long-range weapons to Ukraine, arguing that Kyiv uses them to strike targets deep inside Russian territory.