Russia accused Nato and the United States of “provoking new tensions” after the United States and Germany became the latest allies to allow Ukrainian forces to use Western-supplied weapons to strike targets in Russia.
A Berlin spokesman said Germany believed Ukraine had the right to defend itself against Russia, especially cross-border attacks against its second city, Kharkiv.
U.S. officials said the U.S.-provided weapons could be used to counter Russian firepower near the Kharkiv region, whether Russian forces are “fighting them or preparing to hit them.”
Ukrainian President Zelensky said the decision would help protect civilians living in villages near the Russian border.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted by the TASS news agency as saying that NATO countries, especially the United States and several European countries, “have entered a new round of escalation of tensions and they have done so deliberately.”
“They are provoking Ukraine in every possible way to continue this senseless war.”
In recent weeks, Russian forces have made gains in a surprise offensive in the Kharkiv region close to the Russian border.
Britain and France had signaled a willingness to ease restrictions on Ukraine attacking military bases in Russia before President Joe Biden said late Thursday that U.S.-supplied weapons could be used.
However, a US official told the BBC: “Our policy on prohibiting the use of Army tactical missile systems [ATACMS] Or there are no changes to long-range strikes inside Russia.
German government spokesman Stefan Herbestreit said on Friday that Berlin had a “shared belief” in Ukraine’s right to defend itself against a Russian attack.
“To this end, it can also use weapons provided for this purpose in accordance with its international legal obligations; including weapons provided by us,” he said.
