Image Credentials: Image Title: Germany and Western Allies Lift Long-Standing Missile Restrictions on Ukraine After Devastating Russian Assault Source: (sora.chatgpt) Date: May 2025 Attribution: Created by AI-generated imagery (sora.chatgpt), it does not depict a real-world scene.
By the Open Chronicle International Desk with Agencies
Reporting from Berlin, Kyiv, and Washington
Berlin — In a historic shift in Western military policy, Germany and several key allies have lifted all restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles against targets inside Russian territory, following a weekend of unprecedented aerial attacks by Moscow. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced the decision Monday at a European security forum, confirming what Ukrainian officials had quietly sought for months.
“There are no longer any range restrictions on weapons supplied to Ukraine,” Merz declared. “Neither from the British, nor from the French, nor from us. Nor by the Americans.”
The change enables Kyiv to strike military positions within Russia using Western-supplied weapons for the first time, marking a strategic escalation in a war now entering its fourth year. The policy reversal was spurred by Russia’s largest aerial bombardment of Ukraine to date, a weekend blitz that killed more than two dozen civilians, including children, and damaged infrastructure across several regions, including Kyiv.
Speaking after the attacks, President Volodymyr Zelensky implored allies to intensify pressure on Moscow. “Without really strong pressure on the Russian leadership, this brutality cannot be stopped,” he said Sunday.
🇬🇧🇫🇷🇩🇪🇺🇸🚀
Great Britain, France, Germany and the United States have lifted restrictions on a number of military supplies to Ukraine, — Merz said.
✅ Now it is permitted to carry out long-range strikes with Western weapons on Russian territory. pic.twitter.com/au9d6XxaN2
— MAKS 25 🇺🇦👀 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) May 26, 2025
A Shift in Berlin—and Washington’s Quiet Precedent
Chancellor Merz, who assumed office only weeks ago, has sharply departed from the cautious stance of his predecessor, Olaf Scholz, who had resisted Ukrainian appeals to lift the missile restrictions for fear of escalating the conflict with nuclear-armed Russia.
However, Merz did not confirm whether Germany would provide the powerful Taurus long-range missiles, a step he previously supported as opposition leader. Still, his declaration aligns Germany with Britain and France, both of which had loosened their restrictions recently.
The United States quietly lifted its limits last November, when then-President Joe Biden authorized Ukraine’s use of the US-supplied ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile Systems) for operations inside Russia. That controversial decision came after months of internal debate over escalation risks and Pentagon stockpiles.
Putin Faces International and Domestic Pressure
Kremlin officials swiftly condemned the Western decision. Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for President Vladimir Putin, called the move “rather dangerous,” warning it would sabotage diplomatic efforts toward a political settlement. “If such decisions are made, they will go against our aspirations to settle,” Peskov said via state-run TASS.
Putin, already facing mounting global pressure, has issued veiled nuclear threats in the past, warning that any strike involving Western powers could be interpreted as a “joint attack,” triggering a catastrophic response.
Yet diplomatic isolation is growing. U.S. President Donald Trump, who returned to office earlier this year, voiced public frustration Monday, stating Putin had “gone absolutely crazy.” Trump also criticized Zelensky’s rhetoric, saying it was “causing problems,” even as pressure mounts within Trump’s Republican base to hit Moscow harder.
Senators Chuck Grassley and Lindsey Graham, alongside Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick and Don Bacon have urged Trump to impose sweeping new sanctions. Bacon wrote on X: “The US and allies must arm Ukraine to the teeth. Peace talks are having zero effect on Putin.”
Zelensky Heads to Berlin Amid Diplomatic Fallout
Zelensky is expected in Berlin on Wednesday, where observers believe the missile decision will top the agenda. Analysts say Ukraine could now target Russian airbases, logistics hubs, and missile launch sites that have until now operated with relative impunity near the border.
While many European leaders view the move as overdue, it also deepens the risk of Russian retaliation, potentially dragging NATO further into confrontation. Still, in the eyes of Kyiv, deterrence lies not in caution, but in capability.
As the war grinds on with no clear end, the West’s pivot underscores a growing belief that restraint has done little to change Putin’s calculus—and that Ukraine’s ability to strike back is essential not only to its survival, but to any hope of ending the war on its terms.
Staff Writers at Open Chronicle produce in-depth, field-informed reporting on defense, diplomacy, cultural transformation, and global affairs. Known for clarity, accuracy, and analytical depth, they connect breaking developments to broader historical and strategic contexts. In addition to frontline journalism, Staff Writers also contribute to the Open Chronicle Encyclopedia, crafting authoritative entries that preserve critical knowledge and enrich public understanding.