Germany and France Say Ukraine Should be Allowed to Attack Russian Territory, But Don't Want Escalation

President Macron with Chancellor Scholz. (Twitter/@Bundeskanzler Bundesregierung/Florian Gaertner)

JAKARTA - The leaders of France and Germany on Tuesday said Ukraine should be allowed to attack military sites in Russia used to launch missiles into Ukrainian territory, but not other targets.

"We support Ukraine and we do not want escalation, that has not changed," said French President Emmanuel Macron at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Meseberg, Germany, as reported by Reuters, May 29.

"We think we should allow them to neutralize the military sites where the missiles were fired, the military sites where Ukraine was attacked. However, we should not allow them to attack other targets in Russia and other civilian or military sites in Russia," he explained.

Meanwhile, Chancellor Scholz said he agreed with President Macron, and as long as Ukraine respects the conditions given by arms-supplying countries, including the United States and international law, Ukraine is allowed to defend itself.

"Ukraine has every possibility under international law for what it is doing. That must be made explicit," said Chancellor Scholz.

"I find it strange that some people argue that they should not be allowed to defend themselves and take appropriate action in this regard," he added.

More than two years after Europe's deadliest land war since the Second World War, as Western countries consider what to do about Russia's military advances in Ukraine, Putin is increasingly trumpeting the risk of global war, while Western leaders are downplaying it.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told the Economist that alliance members should let Ukraine strike deep into Russia with Western weapons, a view supported by some European members of the transatlantic alliance although not supported by the United States.