"Ukraine has every right to strike back": until now, Ukraine's allies did not want the weapons they supplied to be used in attacks against Russia. But now this position is clearly being reconsidered.
Over the weekend, the Russian army again attacked Ukraine with drones, bombs and missiles. In the eastern part of the country, the Russians are making new territorial gains with their frontal attacks, while Ukrainian soldiers continue to wait for promised arms deliveries. The situation is so tense that an important question is raised again, writes the German public television ARD: does Ukraine have the right to attack targets in Russia with Western weapons? Some NATO members are already beginning to show pragmatism in this regard, ARD points out.
Counterattacks are "justified by international law"
During his visit to Kiev last week, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said: "It must be said clearly: Russia attacked Ukraine and Ukraine has every right to retaliate. As soon as Russia attacks targets in Ukraine, it is completely understandable that Ukraine would feel it necessary to defend itself - ie. to drive the Russians out of the country and be capable of retaliating". The British government recently promised Ukraine that it would annually provide aid in the amount of three billion pounds - as long as it is needed, ARD recalls.
Immediately before that, the Foreign Minister of Lithuania Baiba Braze said in an interview for the Ukrainian website "European Justice". the following: "Ukraine needs not only air defense and ammunition. Ukraine must be able to carry out long-range precision strikes. Including on Russian territory, from where Russia attacks Ukraine. This is acceptable under international law. Ukraine needs long-range weapons.
Attacks have long been a fact
Until now, Western politicians have rarely resorted to such unequivocal words - at least not publicly, notes the German public-law media. The Russian government, for its part, has consistently said that attacks by Western weapons against targets in Russia could lead to escalation. Now the Kremlin has also accused David Cameron that his words could endanger European security.
Attacks from Ukraine against Russia have actually been a fact for a long time, ARD points out. The country is shelling airports, military bases or oil refineries with combat drones - it is precisely this type of objects that have been hit often recently. Military experts believe that if Ukraine continues its drone attacks, Russia could experience a shortage of gasoline as early as the summer. In addition, fuel prices may rise on a global scale.
Attacks on refineries worry the US
Obviously, this is why the American government has recently been putting pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to stop attacking Russian refineries. Perhaps simply because high gas prices would be real poison for the presidential election campaign. However, Zelensky does not see an alternative to weakening Russia - another strike against a Russian refinery was carried out last Wednesday, ARD points out.
Meanwhile, Zelensky also received support from the Secretary General of NATO: the oil refineries on Russian territory were "legitimate targets" about the Ukrainian drone strikes, Jens Stoltenberg said in early April.
Reactions to the situation at the front
Western politicians and militaries have actually long been covertly condoning attacks on Russian territory. Meanwhile, however, they also do it in public. And for some, it is no longer a problem for these attacks to use Western weapons, writes the German public-law media.
Ukrainian military expert Oleg Zhdanov tells ARD that this is also related to the dire situation on the front. According to him, there is a threat of a new invasion of the Russian military in the region of Sumy or Kharkiv. "In any case, we will be forced to fight on our state border." This would mean shelling the enemy and on his territory.
"Sooner or later this had to happen - for Western countries to withdraw their request that their weapons not be used on Russian soil,", the military expert suggests. He points out to the ARD that anyway it was always about a "request" - there was no ban. This also applies to the US ATACMS missiles delivered to Ukraine in the spring. Their range is up to 300 km.
Waiting for pragmatism to be shown
Ukraine has already attacked numerous Russian targets with them - but always in Russian-occupied areas, and thus has adhered to American requirements that the weapons be used only within the territory of Ukraine. The same applies to British "Storm Shadow" cruise missiles.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, however, remains adamant - he refuses the supply of "Taurus" missiles, which have a range of up to 500 km. However, the Ukrainian military expert admits that Scholz may change his mind.
Before ARD, Zhdanov recalled that Scholz refused the delivery of the "Leopard" tanks as well, but changed his position after the Americans promised Ukraine "Abrams" tanks. "Something similar can happen now and Scholz authorizes the deliveries of "Taurus"", Zhdanov believes.
There is development on the front, but not in a positive direction: Russia continues to advance, commented ARD. But politicians are already showing pragmatism.