France, Germany agree to let Ukraine use Western weapons to attack Russian territory

The leaders of France and Germany said on May 28 that Ukraine should be allowed to use weapons supplied by Western countries to attack military positions inside Russia from which Russian missiles were fired. However, Ukraine should not attack other locations.

Speaking at a joint press conference with host country Prime Minister Olaf Scholz at Meseberg Castle in Gransee, French President Emmanuel Macron said the decision would not escalate the current conflict in Ukraine.

For his part, Chancellor Scholz said he agreed with President Macron and that as long as Ukraine respects the conditions set by arms suppliers, including the United States, as well as international law, Kiev should be allowed to defend itself.

The statement came as Russian President Vladimir Putin warned earlier in the day that European NATO members were "playing with fire" by proposing to allow Ukraine to use Western-supplied weapons to attack inside Russian territory, which he said could trigger a global conflict.

Regarding the current conflict in Gaza, after Spain, Ireland and Norway officially recognized the State of Palestine on the same day, the French President once again affirmed that he "always supports the two-state solution as a political solution" to the conflict in the Middle East.

At the press conference, the French and German leaders also announced general outlines of their economic strategies with Europe, especially in the context of 300 billion euros being invested in American companies each year.

Both the German Chancellor and the French President also stressed the need for unity and leadership in the EU, for which "the Franco-German tandem is of great importance".