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Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that Western nations have lifted the range restrictions on the missiles and long-range weapons supplied to Ukraine. This means that Ukraine is now allowed to use Western-supplied weaponry to target military installations inside Russian territory.

The move marks a substantial shift in how Ukraine’s allies, notably Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States, approach the ongoing war, now in its third year. The change is aimed at enabling Ukraine to better defend itself against escalating Russian attacks by expanding the geographical scope of its defensive capabilities.

Speaking at the WDR European Forum in Berlin, Chancellor Merz stated that the long-standing restrictions that limited the operational use of Western weapons only within Ukrainian territory have now been lifted.

“There are no longer any range restrictions on weapons supplied to Ukraine, neither from the British, nor from the French, nor us, nor the Americans,” said Merz.

This policy shift would allow Ukraine to strike Russian military targets beyond its own border, something that, until now, had been officially avoided due to concerns about the conflict expanding or escalating further. Weapons like the UK’s Storm Shadow cruise missiles and the U.S.-supplied Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) are designed for precision long-range strikes.

“These weapons can now be used for what we call ‘long-range fire,’ allowing Ukraine to hit military targets in the hinterland,” Merz explained. While he did not specify if this includes new shipments or changes to delivery policy, his comments suggest a collective Western understanding to remove these operational restrictions.

Background on range restrictions

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Kyiv has received billions of dollars in military aid from NATO countries and other partners. However, most of this assistance came with usage limitations, particularly on long-range systems, to avoid direct provocation of Moscow.

The core concern had been that if Ukraine used Western-supplied weapons to strike deep into Russia, it could be interpreted as a direct involvement by NATO in the war. This risk of escalation made leaders in Berlin, Paris, London, and Washington cautious about granting Kyiv unrestricted use of advanced weaponry.

Germany had been particularly resistant to sending its Taurus long-range cruise missiles, which have a range of about 500 kilometers and can strike heavily fortified or underground military targets. Former Chancellor Olaf Scholz repeatedly blocked their delivery despite calls from opposition figures, including Merz before his election, urging a more robust military posture.

The U.S. decision in late 2024 to allow the use of ATACMS inside Russian territory marked a pivotal change. ATACMS missiles, which can reach targets up to 300 kilometers away, were reportedly used by Ukraine in an attack on a facility in Russia’s Bryansk region. Similarly, the UK’s Storm Shadow missiles, with a 250-kilometer range, have also been deployed in cross-border strikes.

However, it remained unclear whether Merz’s announcement refers to a new collective policy change among the allies or simply confirms a trend that began quietly in late 2024. Some officials suggest this shift had already been operational but was only recently acknowledged publicly.

Russian reaction

The Kremlin responded with strong disapproval. Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that such decisions “run contrary to our aspirations for reaching a political settlement.”

Russia has consistently warned that long-range Ukrainian attacks inside its borders using NATO-supplied weapons would escalate the war and could trigger a confrontation with Western nations. In September 2024, President Vladimir Putin had cautioned that such actions would be interpreted as NATO entering the conflict.

“This would significantly change the very nature of the conflict,” Putin said at the time. “It would mean that NATO countries, the U.S., and European countries are at war with Russia.”

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also criticized Merz’s remarks, alleging that Western nations had likely reached this decision long ago but concealed it. He interpreted Merz’s public confirmation as validation of what Moscow had suspected: that Ukraine had already been authorized to strike Russian territory using Western systems.

Military and strategic context

The announcement comes amid one of the most intense phases of the war. Ukraine’s air force recently reported the largest aerial assault since the beginning of the invasion, with Russia launching nearly 300 drones and close to 70 missiles in a single night. At least 12 people were killed in that wave of attacks.

Ukraine has repeatedly argued that to defend itself adequately, it must be able to hit key Russian military targets that lie just beyond the border, including logistics hubs, airfields, missile launch sites, and command centers that support operations inside Ukraine.

Removing range restrictions on Western-supplied systems significantly improves Ukraine’s ability to carry out these missions, particularly with precision-guided munitions. Analysts believe this could disrupt Russian supply chains and increase the cost of war for Moscow, especially in border regions that have previously remained relatively safe from direct attacks.

Western political shifts

Chancellor Merz’s comments also mark a political shift within Germany. The new government appears more hawkish on the Russia-Ukraine conflict than its predecessor. While Scholz was often criticized for being overly cautious, Merz has moved quickly to align with other NATO leaders advocating for stronger support to Ukraine.

The broader Western strategy now appears to be focused on pushing Russia back through sustained military pressure, while keeping diplomatic options open. U.S. President Donald Trump, who returned to office in early 2025, has voiced frustration with Putin’s actions but has yet to secure a ceasefire.

Trump, who campaigned on promises to end the war quickly, has faced difficulties getting both Kyiv and Moscow to agree on terms. Ukraine insists on a full withdrawal of Russian forces and rejects any settlement that would compromise its sovereignty or its NATO aspirations. Russia, in contrast, wants guarantees that Ukraine will remain neutral and demands recognition of its control over parts of occupied Ukrainian territory, conditions Kyiv refuses to accept.

The lifting of range restrictions on Western weapons marks a turning point in the Ukraine war. While the immediate military effects are still emerging, the political and strategic implications are clear: Ukraine now has the green light to take the fight beyond its borders, and Russia is officially treating this as a potential escalation.

The coming months will likely test how this new policy plays out on the battlefield and in diplomatic backchannels. What remains unchanged is the deep divide between both sides and the continued struggle to find a lasting resolution to the conflict.