Germany’s Merz backs Ukraine’s long-range missile strikes on Russia
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Putin Warns of Retaliation After Ukraine Gains Approval for Long-Range Strikes
Germany, UK, France, US Allow Ukraine to Strike Deep Inside Russia. All restrictions on the range of weapons supplied to Ukraine have been lifted. Ukraine can now defend itself, including by striking military targets inside Russia. In November, then-US President Joe Biden had lifted the restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range ATACMS missiles to strike targets in Russia. President Vladimir Putin warned that Moscow considered itself entitled to use weapons against military targets in countries that allow their weapons to be used against Russian sites. In the event of escalation, “we will respond just as decisively and symmetrically,” he warned.
Germany, UK, France, US Allow Ukraine to Strike Deep Inside Russia
Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and the United States have lifted all restrictions on the range of weapons supplied to Ukraine, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced.
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org by ILA-boy, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ Taurus missile
“There are no longer any range limitations on the weapons delivered to Ukraine — not from the British, not from the French, not from us, and not from the Americans,” he said.
According to Merz, Ukraine can now defend itself, including by striking military targets inside Russia.
“Until recently, with very few exceptions, Ukraine was unable to do this. Now it can use what we call in military jargon ‘Long Range Fire’ to attack military targets in the rear. That’s a decisive factor,” the chancellor emphasized.
In response to ATACMS and Storm Shadow strikes on targets inside Russia in November last year, President Vladimir Putin stated that Moscow considered itself entitled to use weapons against military targets in the countries that allow their weapons to be used against Russian sites. In the event of escalation, “we will respond just as decisively and symmetrically,” he warned. Earlier, Putin said that lifting restrictions on Kyiv’s use of Western long-range missiles would mean that NATO countries were “at war with Russia.”
Back in November, then-US President Joe Biden had lifted the restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range ATACMS missiles to strike targets inside Russia. The White House later confirmed that Washington had authorized Kyiv to use ATACMS “for self-defense, in cases of urgent necessity.” These strikes focused on Russia’s Kursk region.
Josep Borrell, who at the time headed the EU’s foreign policy arm, later clarified that Ukraine had been granted permission to carry out strikes up to 300 kilometers in range.
Current US President Donald Trump said in December that he did not agree with sending missiles hundreds of miles into Russia not to fuel the war.
In response to the ATACMS and Storm Shadow strikes on targets in Russia’s Kursk and Bryansk regions, Putin said Russia retaliated with the use of the Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile. He later warned that Moscow could strike with Oreshnik again, but was in no rush.
Details
Russia can attack Europe 2-4 years after war’s end, faster with lifted sanctions, Ukrainian intel chief warns
Oleh Ivashchenko: Russia will be able to restore combat capabilities and launch an aggression against Europe between two and four years after hostilities in Ukraine end. Western officials have previously shared similar time estimates, underscoring the growing threat of an open clash between Moscow and NATO after the Russian full-scale war against Ukraine ends. Russia’s military is currently heavily engaged in Ukraine, suffering massive losses in manpower and equipment.
Russia will be able to restore its combat capabilities and launch an aggression against Europe between two and four years after hostilities in Ukraine end, Ukrainian foreign intelligence (SZRU) chief Oleh Ivashchenko said in an interview with Ukrinform published on May 26.
“If the sanctions are lifted, the rearmament process will proceed much faster,” Ivashchenko said in the interview, adding that Kyiv has shared its estimates with European partners.
Western officials have previously shared similar time estimates, underscoring the growing threat of an open clash between Moscow and NATO after the Russian full-scale war against Ukraine ends.
Russia’s military is currently heavily engaged in Ukraine, suffering massive losses in manpower and equipment. Christopher Cavoli, commander of U.S. forces in Europe, nevertheless warned in April that Russia is rebuilding its forces much faster than previously anticipated.
Ukraine’s military claims that Russia has suffered close to 1 million men killed, injured, or otherwise listed as casualties since the outbreak of the full-scale war.
Kyiv’s Western partners — namely the U.S. and the EU — have also sought to restrain Russia’s ability to reconstitute its forces by imposing heavy sanctions aimed at cutting off supply chains and throttling Moscow’s economy.
U.S., European, and Ukrainian officials and military experts believe that Russia is losing its military edge on the battlefield, presenting it as an impetus to increase pressure on Moscow and force it toward a ceasefire, the Washington Post reported.
Instead, U.S. President Donald Trump said he does not plan any additional sanctions against Russia, so as not to disrupt peace efforts, dashing European hopes of a coordinated strategy. The EU has pledged to ramp up sanctions if Russia continues to reject a ceasefire, and the bloc’s 18th sanctions package is currently under discussion.
The Trump administration has previously signaled interest in resuming economic ties with Russia after a potential peace deal, though pledging to maintain the existing sanctions until then.
Germany greenlights use of NATO missile strikes ‘deep into Russia’ – as Macron demands Trump to take crushing action against ‘liar’ Putin
Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that Germany along with Ukraine’s other key Western backers had lifted range restrictions on weapons they send to Kyiv. ‘Ukraine can now defend itself, for example, by attacking military positions in Russia… With very few exceptions, it didn’t do that until recently,’ he said. French President Emmanuel Macron said today that Donald Trump had finally realised that Putin was not looking for peace. At least 13 people were killed and dozens injured in Ukraine overnight Saturday into Sunday after Russia fired 367 drones and missiles west. It was the largest combined aerial attack since the full-scale invasion in February 2022. Between Sunday and Monday, Russia launched another 355 drones and nine cruise missiles against Ukraine, per Kyiv’s air force. Russia argued the attacks were a response to Ukrainian attacks on ‘social infrastructure’ The U.S. has been negotiating with Ukraine and Russia to try to bring an end to the conflict after more than three years of war. But Merkel did not say whether Germany would now send Taurus missiles to Ukraine.
Germany today greenlit the use of NATO missiles to strike deep into Russia in a show of allied unity after Moscow pounded Ukraine with its largest drone barrage so far.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that Germany along with Ukraine’s other key Western backers had lifted range restrictions on weapons they send to Kyiv.
‘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 said.
‘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.’
The previous German government had strongly supported Kyiv, but stopped short of sending it long-range Taurus missiles, fearing further escalation with Russia.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today that the new policy would run counter to aspirations for a political settlement to the crisis.
The U.S. has been negotiating with Ukraine and Russia to try to bring an end to the conflict after more than three years.
But French President Emmanuel Macron said today that Donald Trump had finally realised that Putin was not looking for peace.
‘President Trump realises that when President Putin said on the phone he was ready for peace, or told his envoys he was ready for peace, he lied,’ Macron said.
In a rare rebuke of the Russian leader, Trump said on Truth Social late Sunday in Washington: ‘I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!’
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz takes part in a discussion on stage of the ‘Re:Publica 25’ fair ground in Berlin on May 26, 2025
One of the last two F-16 fighter jets takes off for Ukraine at Volkel Air Base, Volkel, The Netherlands, 26 May 2025
Paramedics take a Ukrainian soldier, released from Russian captivity during the third phase of 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange, to a hospital on May 25, 2025 in Chernihiv Oblast, Ukraine
‘I’ve always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!’
The US president has been trying to broker an end to the war, but has failed to extract any major concessions from the Kremlin, despite repeated negotiations between his administration and Russia and several phone calls between him and Putin.
Macron said Monday he hoped Trump’s anger at Moscow translated ‘into action’ as Europe hardened its own response to Russian aggression.
‘We have seen once again in recent hours Donald Trump express his anger. A form of impatience. I simply hope now that this translates into action,’ he said.
He suggested that Putin had tricked Trump by engaging in diplomatic talks surrounding a peace deal, even after meeting with his envoy Steve Witkoff on four different occasions.
Despite making overtures to peace, Putin has expanded attacks on Ukraine in recent days.
At least 13 people were killed and dozens injured in Ukraine overnight Saturday into Sunday after Russia fired 367 drones and missiles west.
It was the largest combined aerial attack since the full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Between Sunday and Monday, Russia launched another 355 drones and nine cruise missiles against Ukraine, per Kyiv’s air force.
Ukraine said it was the largest drone-only attack of the war so far.
Russia argued the attacks were a response to Ukrainian attacks on ‘social infrastructure’.
FILE PHOTO: A South Korean Air Force F-15K fighter jet launching a Taurus long-range air-to-surface missile during a live-fire exercise off the country’s western coast
Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the government via video link in Moscow, Russia May 22, 2025
With the mass attacks undermining Putin’s claims that Russia seeks peace, Merz, in Germany, vowed that ‘we will do everything in our power to continue supporting Ukraine, including militarily’, in close coordination with other supporters.
He has in the past said he favours delivery of Taurus missiles, which could strike targets deep inside Russia.
His government has since stressed it would no longer detail what arms it is sending to Ukraine, preferring a stance of strategic ambiguity.
Speaking in a lengthy interview with public broadcaster WDR, Merz did not say whether Germany would now send Taurus missiles to Kyiv.
Merz did take the opportunity to slam Putin’s reluctance to engage in peace talks.
The Kremlin chief has responded to diplomatic efforts to bring the conflict to a close by prosecuting the war ‘harder than before’, Merz told WDR.
‘Putin obviously sees offers of talks as a sign of weakness,’ Merz said.
The Kremlin on Monday said European countries lifting restrictions on long-range missile capabilities for Ukraine would be a dangerous move, Kremlin correspondent Alexander Yunashev reported.
Since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House this year, he has sought to push the two sides in the conflict toward direct talks at the highest level.
Tankers of the 115th Separate Mechanized Brigade training at a training ground in Donetsk region, Ukraine on April 28, 2025
Ukrainians load tank ammunition onto a Leopard 2A4 tank during a field training exercise at an undisclosed location in Ukraine, on April 30, 2025
Trump last week suggested the Vatican as a possible host for a meeting, with the Italian government saying the leader of the Catholic Church was ready to organise talks.
But Moscow has cast doubt on the potential for the Holy See as a host.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said it would be ‘inelegant’ for the Catholic Church to mediate discussions between two principally Orthodox Christian countries.
Merz said that Ukraine’s Western backers had sought to use all the diplomatic options available to them to initiate talks.
‘After the last three weeks, no one can seriously accuse us of not having exhausted all available diplomatic means,’ Merz said. Short of ‘raising the white flag’, Ukraine’s supporters had ‘done everything’ they could.
‘If even an offer to meet at the Vatican does not get (Putin’s) approval, then we must be prepared for this war to last longer than we all wish or can imagine.’
Germany lifted restrictions on Ukraineʼs strike range against Russia
Germany has lifted restrictions on Ukraine’s strike range against Russia. Chancellor Friedrich Merz: “We will do everything we can to continue to support Ukraine”
This was written by the countryʼs Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
“We will do everything we can to continue to support Ukraine. This also means that there are no longer any restrictions on the range of fire for the weapons we supply. Ukraine can now also defend itself by attacking military positions in Russia.”
Back in April, Friedrich Merz confirmed that he supports the transfer of long-range Taurus missiles to the Ukrainian military. In his opinion, the land link between Russia and temporarily occupied Crimea could be a target for strikes — the peninsula houses a large part of the military supplies for the Russian army.
Germany’s Merz Says Ukraine Can Use Western Long-Range Weapons on Targets in Russia
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says there are no longer any range restrictions for weapons supplied to Ukraine. Merz: “This means that Ukraine can now defend itself, including, for example, by attacking military positions in Russia, which it couldn’t do up to a certain point.”
“There are no longer any range restrictions for weapons supplied to Ukraine, neither from the British, the French, us or the Americans,” Merz told the broadcaster WDR.
“This means that Ukraine can now defend itself, including, for example, by attacking military positions in Russia, which it couldn’t do up to a certain point,” he added.
Ukraine’s Western allies had initially restricted the use of long-range missiles to targets within Ukrainian territory under Russian occupation. But the United States and Britain authorized strikes on Russian soil last November after North Korean troops were sent to support Russian forces in the Kursk region, which Ukrainian troops had attacked in August.
President Vladimir Putin condemned that decision at the time, warning that it would mean NATO is “at war with Russia.” He responded by broadening Russia’s nuclear doctrine, authorizing the use of nuclear weapons in response to large-scale conventional attacks or attacks by non-nuclear states backed by nuclear powers.