West Allows Ukraine To Attack Russia With Long-Range Missiles
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
KYIV/BERLIN/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – In a warning to Russia, Germany confirmed Monday that Western countries allied to Ukraine no longer impose range limits on arms delivered to Kyiv.
Germany’s new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, made the announcement after Moscow launched its third consecutive night of massive drone strikes against Ukraine overnight into Monday.
“There are no longer any restrictions on the range of weapons delivered to Ukraine – neither by the U.K., France, nor us. There are no restrictions by the US either,” Merz reportedly said during a discussion forum organized by Germany’s public broadcaster WDR.
“This means that Ukraine can now defend itself, for example, by attacking military positions in Russia,” the chancellor added. “Until recently, it couldn’t do that, and apart from very few exceptions, it hadn’t done so either.”
His remarks came ahead of Zelenskyy’s reportedly Wednesday visit to Berlin, where he will meet with Merz and German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
The chancellor’s unprecedented remarks came shortly after Russia fired a record 355 Shahed drones as well as nine cruise missiles, officials said, despite U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s mounting anger over the attacks.
Trump warned late Sunday night that if Russian President Vladimir Putin attempts to conquer all of Ukraine, it will lead to the “downfall” of Russia.
MORE DEVASTATING STRIKES
It suggested more devastating military strikes against Russia were possible, despite concerns it could internationalize an armed conflict that is believed to have killed and injured more than a million people since Moscow launched its full scale invasion of Ukraine on February 2022.
There had been hesitation to approve the use of more effective long-range missiles by Kyiv amid fears of an escalation of the conflict, including over Russia’s nuclear capabilities.
Ukraine previously received long-range missiles from Washington, London, and Paris, but it was initially only allowed to use them against Russian military targets in occupied Ukrainian territories.
However, there were exceptions. Last April, Ukraine reportedly used longer-range ballistic missiles called Army Tactical Missile System (Atcams) – supplied by then U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration – for the first time after Washington okayed the operation.
The U.S. president, who held two hours of talks with his Russian counterpart in recent days, declared on social media that Putin was “absolutely CRAZY” after Russia’s deadly drone and missile strikes on Ukraine over the weekend, killing at least a dozen people, including children
Echoing remarks from the European Union, Trump stressed he was seriously considering imposing “more sanctions on Russia” following the attacks.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the increase in Russian strikes should be met with “increased sanctions,” adding that Moscow’s dismissal of the US-proposed 30-day ceasefire should lead to a “freeze on Russian finances and a halt to its oil trade.”
MOSCOW DEFENDS ATTACKS
The Kremlin defended its latest drone and missile attacks on Ukraine, saying it was a reaction “to Kyiv’s attacks” on Russian infrastructure and military targets, including in and around Moscow, the capital.
French president Emmanuel Macron said he thinks Trump is realising Putin “had lied” to him about his intentions for peace, adding he hopes his anger “translates into action.”
The tensions over the ongoing missile strikes also come as the West accuses Russia of bringing the war to its doorstops, including arson attacks on the private home of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a building where he once lived, and a car that he had owned.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov played down reports that British security officials were looking into whether Russia was involved in the attacks. “London tends to suspect Russia of anything. As a rule, all these suspicions are groundless, unsubstantiated, and often laughable,” he stressed.
Authorities said no one was injured in the fires that occurred in north London on three nights between May 8 and May 12.
British prosecutors three men linked ties to wartorn Ukraine are held on arson charges without bail before a hearing on June 6 in London’s Central Criminal Court.
Britain has officially not blamed Russia yet, but officials have done so privately.
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