Germany and France agree Ukraine may strike Russian military targets

euronews (in English)

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Germany would not prohibit Ukrainian attacks on Russian military targets, saying Ukraine "is allowed to defend itself."

Transcript

00:00Whilst German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had previously been firm on Ukraine not using Western weapons

00:05to strike Russian targets, he made a step in the direction of French President Emmanuel

00:10Macron on the third and last day of the French leader's historic state visit to Germany.

00:17Both leaders put their disagreements aside on Tuesday near Berlin and compromised on

00:22the divisive subject of EU defence.

00:25The German Chancellor was also more open in terms of military aid to Ukraine, saying

00:30Kiev should be allowed to hit military sites inside Russia, but not other targets.

00:36A turning point for Berlin, since the Chancellor had been reluctant to let Ukraine strike over

00:42the border, fearing it could lead to a direct confrontation with nuclear-armed Moscow.

00:55For his part, Emmanuel Macron buried the hatchet with Berlin after the latter initiated

01:13a European anti-missile shield project without including Paris.

01:18Other differing views, such as economic links to China and the US, have also rocked the

01:23Franco-German relationship recently.

01:25Whilst Macron supports greater European independence in defence and to shield the EU economy from

01:32unfair Chinese and American competition, Scholz underlines the importance of transatlantic

01:38treaties and trade relations with China.

01:42This meeting, ahead of the EU vote, marks a turning point in domestic EU politics.

01:49The goal of the historic state visit was to show a united Franco-German front as both

01:54leaders face predicted defeats at the hands of far-right parties less than two weeks ahead

02:00of the EU elections.

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