Friedrich Merz, the newly elected chancellor of Germany, has announced that Ukraine’s Western allies are lifting the weapons supply ban.
Merz stated at a local political gathering in Berlin on Monday that the policy change applies to weapons supplied by nations like the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the United States.
Any such action, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, is “absolutely contrary” to any upcoming peace agreement with Kyiv.
Merz’s announcement comes as Russian attacks across Ukraine are on the rise, and Donald Trump, the president of Russia, has criticized him for his “crazy” comments on Sunday.
So the question is: How might this decision affect upcoming ceasefire negotiations between Russia and Ukraine?
What information is necessary here:
What did Merz specifically say?
The German chancellor stated at a forum hosted by public broadcaster WDR that there are no longer any range limitations on the weapons that have been delivered to Ukraine, neither by the British, French, Americans, nor by the French either.
That enables Ukraine to also assert itself by attacking Russian military installations, Merz said. It “can now,” it used to say, “but it couldn’t.”
He continued, “We call this long-range fire,” and we also supply Ukraine with weapons that can attack military installations in the hinterland, in jargon.
However, it was unclear whether Merz was referring to the US’s decision to allow Ukraine to launch strikes inside Russian territory using long-range missiles like the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS).
Russian authorities reported on November 19 that Ukraine had used six ATACMS ballistic missiles with a range of 300 kilometers (190 miles) to attack a “facility” in the border region of Bryansk  following US approval.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Ukraine fired long-range Storm Shadow missiles into Russia a day later. Targets up to 250 kilometers (155 miles) away can be hit by the Storm Shadow missile.
What are the limitations on the range?
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, has repeatedly urged his Western allies to outlaw restrictions on the use of long-range weapons, such as the ATACMS, which they offer to Ukraine.
Zelenskyy claims that by granting Kyiv this ability, Ukrainian forces could attack targets like airfields, ammunition storage facilities, and command centers far inside Russia.
Western allies have, however, remained cautious up until now because they were concerned that Ukrainian strikes deep inside Russia could increase the conflict beyond Ukraine’s borders.
Germany had long opposed sending Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine, which is now the second-largest recipient of military aid after the US.
Despite being called by Merz while he was in the opposition, former Chancellor Olaf Scholz had outright rejected their delivery to Kyiv.
The low-flying cruise missile has a 500 km (310 miles) range and is suitable for hitting targets that are buried or protected. If Germany decides to supply Ukraine with missiles, the air-launched projectile would be the strongest Western missile ever used.
Merz did not specify whether Berlin would send the cruise missiles to the Ukrainian army as he announced it on Monday.
What has Russia done to combat it?
According to Peskov, a spokesman for the Kremlin, allowing Ukraine to possess long-range missile capabilities would be a risky choice on Monday.
According to Peskov, “these potential decisions, if they have indeed been made, run completely against our aspirations for reaching a political settlement.”
President Putin had warned in September of last year that NATO and Russia would be “at war” if Ukraine’s Western allies allowed it to launch long-range missiles inside Russia.
The nature of the conflict would change significantly as a result. Putin had stated that this would indicate that Russia and the US and other European countries are at war.
Merz’s announcement was a “response to Russian foot-dragging,” according to Timothy Ash, an associate fellow in Chatham House’s Russia and Eurasia program.
He told Al Jazeera, “The Europeans hope it will put pressure on Russia to take the negotiations seriously.”
Ash added that the decision was a “significant change in how the German chancellor views things.” He claimed that Scholz and him are “clearly more hawkish” about Russia.
“The two parties’ efforts to reach a peaceful conclusion are still insufficient. Both parties are prepared for the protracted conflict, he continued, adding that this will only contribute to a slight easing of Ukraine’s chances.
Russia launched its largest airstrike of the three-year-old conflict overnight, according to Ukraine’s air force, firing a record 298 drones and 69 missiles, according to Sunday’s report from the country’s air force. The attack claimed the lives of at least 12 people.
How has Trump handled the most recent Russian attack?
Due to the lack of success so far for his administration’s efforts to end the war, the US president has grown increasingly frustrated with Putin. After speaking with Putin for two hours last week, he was unable to secure a ceasefire for Ukraine.
“Putin’s actions are not what I’m happy with. He is frequently killing people. And what the heck has Putin been up to, Trump told reporters on Sunday.
Putin has known him for a long time, and we have always gotten along, but he’s killing people with his rockets and is considering putting more sanctions on Moscow, he said.
Trump had promised to end the conflict right away during his campaign trail for the presidency, but he has still not been successful in achieving a truce five months after taking office.
Putin claims that any agreement must address “the root causes of this crisis,” while Ukraine demands an unconditional ceasefire. Moscow wants Kyiv’s forces to withdraw from Ukrainian regions that are partially occupied by Russian forces and not be allowed to join NATO. Those demands have been rejected by Kyiv.
Source: Aljazeera
Leave a Reply