In a stunning shift that’s been months in the making, Germany and several of Ukraine’s top allies have officially scrapped restrictions preventing Kyiv from striking inside Russian territory with long-range missiles.
The move comes after Russia launched its most intense aerial assault of the war so far, with swarms of drones and missiles pounding Ukrainian cities over the weekend, killing over two dozen people, including children. For Ukraine, it was a brutal reminder that the front lines are no longer confined to the east, and its allies appear to have finally listened.
“There are no longer any range restrictions on weapons supplied to Ukraine,” declared German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at a European forum in Berlin on Monday. “Neither from the British, nor from the French, nor from us. Nor by the Americans.”
Put plainly? Ukraine can now strike back, and not just in occupied territories, but inside Russia itself.
A Clear Shift in Strategy
This marks a seismic change from the previous position held by NATO countries, which had consistently resisted allowing Ukraine to use Western-supplied long-range weapons beyond its own borders, fearing the move could provoke wider conflict with Russia.
Merz’s announcement signals a decisive break from the cautious approach of his predecessor, Olaf Scholz, who had long refused to lift such restrictions. Merz only became Chancellor a few weeks ago, but he’s wasted no time reshaping Germany’s stance on the war.
What remains unclear, however, is whether Germany will follow through on supplying its formidable Taurus cruise missiles, something Merz previously supported while still in opposition. These long-range weapons could give Ukraine significant reach, but Berlin hasn’t yet confirmed if they’re on the table.
America’s Position: Already Shifted, Quietly
While Germany made headlines this week, it’s worth noting that the United States already lifted its own restrictions last November. Former President Joe Biden authorised Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile Systems) inside Russia, though that move was kept quiet at the time and came after months of fierce internal debate.
Even supplying ATACMS at all was controversial. The first batch didn’t arrive until April 2024, two years into the war, largely due to fears about escalating the conflict or draining the Pentagon’s own stockpiles.
Russia’s Response: Nuclear Threats and Rhetoric
As expected, the Kremlin wasted no time issuing threats. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov condemned the move as “rather dangerous,” warning that such decisions “go against our aspirations to reach a political settlement.”
Moscow has long warned that any attack inside Russian territory using NATO-supplied weapons, especially from nuclear powers, could be interpreted as a joint assault. President Vladimir Putin has previously floated the use of nuclear weapons if Russia is hit with conventional long-range strikes.
But even as the threats pour in, the battlefield reality is changing, and Ukraine is no longer bound by invisible borders drawn by allied fear.
Zelensky’s Plea, and Trump’s Frustration
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected in Berlin this Wednesday, where he’s likely to thank Germany for the support, and press for even more.
He’s also been blunt in his message to Western leaders: without ramped-up pressure on Moscow, the bloodshed won’t stop.
“Without really strong pressure on the Russian leadership, this brutality cannot be stopped,” he said following the deadly weekend strikes.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump, now back in the White House, has expressed increasing exasperation with Putin. On Monday, he told reporters that the Russian leader had “gone absolutely crazy”, but he also aimed fire at Zelensky, suggesting the Ukrainian leader’s tone wasn’t helping diplomatic efforts.
Trump is now under pressure from within his own Republican base to take stronger action. A growing number of U.S. lawmakers, including Senators Lindsey Graham and Chuck Grassley, are calling for harsh new sanctions on Russia.
Congressman Don Bacon summed it up bluntly:
“Peace talks are having zero effect on Putin. The US and allies must arm Ukraine to the teeth.”
What Happens Now?
Ukraine is finally getting the tools, and the permission, to take the fight directly to the source. Whether this accelerates the path to victory, or risks further escalation, is the question now hanging over capitals from Washington to Berlin.
One thing is clear: this war has entered a new and far more dangerous phase.
