Germany and Italy announced they would not change their positions regarding allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons against military targets in Russia.
The Italian government has criticized North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s call to lift restrictions on the use of Western weapons supplied to the Kiev government.
On May 26, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said that Ukraine should not use Western weapons to attack targets in Russia.
Adnkronos news agency quoted Mr. Tajani as saying: “We will not send a single Italian soldier to Ukraine and the military equipment that Rome supports will only be used on Ukrainian territory.”
Foreign Minister Tajani further noted that Italy is a member of NATO and all decisions must be made collectively.
Previously, on May 25, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in an interview with The Economist that NATO countries should lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of Western weapons to carry out attacks. attacks against targets within Russian territory.
Commenting on Mr. Stoltenberg’s statement, Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Matteo Salvini, head of the League party in the ruling right-wing coalition, said that there could be no lifting of the ban. using Western weapons to target Russian territory.
At the same time, the Italian Deputy Prime Minister affirmed that he always opposed sending Italian troops to participate in fighting in Ukraine.
“Italy is not at war with anyone, and while military support for Ukraine is correct, lifting the ban on Kiev attacking military targets in Russia is unacceptable. Likewise, I repeat that the Lega League party is against sending even one soldier to fight in Ukraine, we seek peace, not a prelude to World War III,” Mr. Salvini emphasized.
On the same day, German Prime Minister Olaf Scholz also expressed his opposition to allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons against military targets in Russia.
German Prime Minister Olaf Scholz. Photo: Tass
DPA news agency quoted the German Prime Minister at the meeting on May 24 stating: “We have clear regulations on the use of weapons that Berlin provides to Kiev. We have agreed with Ukraine and there are no grounds to change these regulations at the present time.”
Previously, on May 24, Prime Minister Scholz pledged to continue military support for Ukraine but once again explained why Germany could not provide Taurus long-range missiles to Kiev.
Tass news agency quoted the German Prime Minister as saying: “We will support Ukraine as long as necessary. However, each decision should be carefully considered. Germany supports Ukraine’s defense efforts but does not want to It escalates into a war between Russia and NATO. Imagine what would happen to Europe and the whole world if that happened.”
Mr. Scholz also reiterated that Berlin’s military aid to Kiev has amounted to 28 billion euros. Germany is currently the second largest arms supplier to Ukraine, only after the United States. Not long ago, Berlin pledged to provide an additional Patriot system to motivate other countries to increase aid to Ukraine.
However, Mr. Scholz once again stated his opposition to sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine, because it would mean German soldiers would have to help Ukraine set targets as well as perform other tasks.
Ukraine has repeatedly asked Germany to provide Taurus missiles since the conflict with Russia. These missiles are considered similar to the Storm Shadows missiles that Britain supplied to Ukraine. However, the Taurus missile can fly farther than Storm Shadow, up to 500km.
The German Prime Minister has repeatedly denied transferring Taurus missiles to Ukraine. According to Prime Minister Scholz, to use these missiles effectively, German soldiers must participate and this is a line he does not want to cross.