Scholz says German military strikes on Russia do not threaten escalation

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz commented on the German government's decision to allow Ukraine to use German weapons to strike military targets in the Russian Federation bordering Kharkiv region. According to him, this is only an opportunity for Ukrainian forces to defend the region and the second largest city in Ukraine, Kharkiv.

Therefore, the German Chancellor does not see any prerequisites for escalation in this authorization. Scholz said this on June 3 on the air of the Antenne Bayern radio station, DW reports.

He emphasized that he did not believe that the use of Western weapons, in particular German-made ones, for military purposes in the territory of the Russian Federation would lead to escalation.

"As the US president said, it is only about the ability to defend a large city, such as Kharkiv," Scholz said.

He explained that the decision to ease restrictions on the use of German weapons for strikes on the territory of the Russian Federation was made as a result of cooperation with Germany's "friends and allies." At the same time, the Federal Chancellor emphasized that there was no pressure to persuade him to make decisions that would be "wrong and untimely."

The German government announced the decision to allow Ukraine to use Western weapons to strike at the territory of the Russian Federation bordering Kharkiv region on May 31. Officials explained this decision by the increasing number of attacks by the Russian army in the region. The German government emphasized that they were "prepared, coordinated and carried out" from positions near the Russian border.

"Ukraine has the right under international law to defend itself against these attacks," said government spokesman Steffen Gebestreit in his speech.

The United States and a number of other Western countries also made similar statements about easing restrictions. Moscow responded with another round of threats, saying that the use of Western weapons to strike at Russian territory would have "fatal consequences."

Earlier, the NYT published an article on how Russia is organizing sabotage in Europe to disrupt arms supplies to Ukraine.

And such efforts are quite understandable. After all, according to Estonian intelligence, Western arms supplies to Ukraine have helped slow down Russia's offensive.

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