Merz raises weapons restrictions: new era for Ukraine?
Merz raises weapons restrictions: new era for Ukraine?
Deutschland - Chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced a drastic turn in German arms delivery policy. He explained that weapons delivered by Germany can now be used against Russian territory. "There are no longer any reach restrictions on weapons that have been delivered to Ukraine," said Merz. This enables Ukraine to attack military positions in Russia, which is considered a new development compared to its predecessor Olaf Scholz, who had limited this possibility. Up to this point, Germany had not delivered any weapons with ranges over 85 kilometers. Merz has long been calling for the delivery of Taurus marching aircraft for Ukraine, the reach of which is up to 500 kilometers, but concrete plans for this remain unclear.
SPD Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil vehemently contradicts Merz 'statements. He emphasizes that there is no new agreement on the reach of the weapons delivered. "No new appointment," explains Klingbeil and emphasizes that the Chancellor's change of course had not been coordinated. These different points of view within the government coalition raise questions about the future direction of German military aid. CDU Secretary of State Johann WadePhul defends Merz, but leaves open whether and when the Taurus marching aircraft are actually delivered.
reactions and concerns
The reactions to Merz 'statements are mixed. The Kremlin has already condemned the statements as "rather dangerous decisions". Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskow argued that this contradicts the ongoing efforts to have a political solution in the conflict. In addition, WadePhul rejects Russian criticism and emphasizes the continued support for Ukraine. In addition to the political effects, there are also different opinions on this new strategy within German politics.
Agnieska Brugger from the Greens welcomes Merz's decision and demands the delivery of Taurus marching sky bodies, while Sören Pellmann expresses concerns about a possible escalation. Marie-Egnes Strack Zimmermann from the FDP supports the decision of the Chancellor, while Sahra Wagenknecht from BSW criticizes the decision as potentially dangerous.
background of the arms deliveries
The military conflict in Ukraine, which began on February 24, 2022 with the Russian attack on the country, triggered dismay worldwide. From then on, Ukraine asked Western allies to support weapons deliveries. Since then, Germany has supplied a number of armaments, such as armored shaft and combat armor, whereby the delivery of long -term weapons was initially rejected to avoid escalation. In October 2023, the federal government assured additional military aids of around one billion euros, including anti -aircraft systems, tanks and ammunition.
In this context, Germany is the second largest supporter of Ukraine, with over 38 billion euros in military aid, while the United States provides the greatest support with around 71 billion euros. According to the information from Statista, Germany is in a difficult position, however, since public opinion is divided into arms deliveries, in particular with regard to combat tanks and campaigns. A survey shows that a majority are against the delivery of fighter planes and many citizens believe that these measures will not have Ukraine wins military.The further development of German arms delivery policy and the reactions to Merz 'announcements are being pursued with excitement, while the conflict in Ukraine continues to be discussed internationally.
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