Scholz: Striking Military Targets on Russian Territory With Western Weapons Won’t Lead to Escalation

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz does not believe that striking military targets on Russian territory with German-supplied weapons will lead to escalation.

“We are convinced that this will not lead to escalation, because — as the US President also said — the question is only about being able to defend such large cities as, for example, Kharkiv,” Scholz said on Monday, June 3, according to German media Rheinische Post.

The Chancellor noted that the decision to grant Kyiv the right to use German weapons was carefully considered in cooperation with Germany’s “friends and allies.” At the same time, Scholz assured German citizens that he would never allow pressure on himself to make “wrong and untimely decisions.”

On may 31, Germany has officially authorized Ukraine to use German-supplied weapons against bordering Russian territory near Kharkiv. Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit explained the change in Berlin’s position on this issue by the increase in attacks by the Russian army in the Kharkiv region, which were “prepared, coordinated and carried out” from positions directly adjacent to the Russian border. “We all agree that Ukraine has the right to defend itself from these attacks under international law,” Hebestreit said.

The United States and a number of other Western countries have granted Kyiv the same right.