German Leader: US, UK, France, Germany End Limits On Ukraine Hitting Russia

Evidently exasperated by Russia's increase in attacks on civilian Ukrainian targets, Germany's Chancellor announced that there are no longer any restrictions on Ukraine using the weapons supplied by the US, UK, France and Germany to hit targets in Russia. 

This statement comes as President Trump unexpectedly stated that Putin had "gone crazy" with the latest Russian attacks after promising Trump he wanted peace. The implication is that both Europe and the US see some benefits in increasing pressure on Putin, especially as reports about the state of Russia's military and economy are growing dire. JL

Jessica Parker reports in the BBC and Leo Chiu reports in the Kyiv Post:

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said there are no more restrictions on Kyiv using Western long-range weaponry against targets inside Russia. "There are no longer any range restrictions on weapons delivered to Ukraine - neither by the British nor by the French nor by us nor by the Americans. This means that Ukraine can now defend itself, for example, by attacking military positions in Russia... With very few exceptions, it didn't do that until recently. It can now do that. “After the last three weeks, no one can seriously accuse us of not having exhausted all available diplomatic means”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said there are no more restrictions on Kyiv using Western long-range weaponry against targets inside Russia. 

Merz’s comments came after Russia launched large-scale aerial strikes across Ukraine three nights in a row. 

Merz said a similar decision has also been made by the UK and France – as well as the US – during Monday’s WDR Europaforum hosted by Germany’s WDR outlet. 

 

"There are no longer any range restrictions on weapons delivered to Ukraine - neither by the British nor by the French nor by us nor by the Americans," he says.

For context: The UK said a year ago that Ukraine had the right to decide how to use British supplied weapons in its defence. In November, Ukraine fired UK-supplied longer-range Shadow missiles at targets in Russia.

"This means that Ukraine can now defend itself, for example, by attacking military positions in Russia... With very few exceptions, it didn't do that until recently. It can now do that."

Merz has also accused Russia of attacking civilian targets ruthlessly – saying Ukraine did not do that.

In a later post on X, Merz said: “We will do everything in our power to continue supporting Ukraine. This also means no longer having any range restrictions on the weapons we supply. Ukraine can now also defend itself by attacking military positions in Russia.”

The BBC has approached the Chancellery for comment – specifically if this means Germany will supply its long-discussed Taurus missiles to Ukraine.

 

The Kremlin has responded to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's announcement that Western countries would no longer impose range limits on arms deliveries to Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says such a move would be "quite dangerous".

"If such decisions did take place, they potentially run counter to our aspirations to reach a political settlement," he added. 

 

Commenting on the recent peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow that failed to secure a ceasefire, Merz said Russian leader Vladimir Putin “obviously sees offers of talks as a sign of weakness.”

“After the last three weeks, no one can seriously accuse us of not having exhausted all available diplomatic means,”

For context: Kyiv has wanted Germany to provide Taurus missiles, which have a range of around 500km (300 miles).

According to German media,, external President Zelensky will visit Berlin on Wednesday, but this has not been officially confirmed.