Germany and France agree Ukraine may strike Russian military targets

The German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the French President Emmanuel Macron showed their joint support for Ukraine during a Franco-German defence and security council in Meseberg on Tuesday.

Whilst Chancellor Scholz had previously been firm on Ukraine not using Western weapons to strike Russian targets, he made a step in the direction of Macron, on the third and last day of the French president's historic state visit to Germany.

Both leaders put their disagreements aside and compromised on the divisive subject of EU defence.

The German chancellor was also more open in terms of military aid to Ukraine, saying Kyiv should be allowed to hit military sites inside Russia but not other targets – a turning point for Berlin since the chancellor had been reluctant to let Ukraine strike over the border, fearing it could lead to a direct conflict with nuclear-armed Russia.

“Ukraine has every possibility to do this, under international law,” Scholz said. “It must be said clearly, if Ukraine is attacked, it can defend itself.”

“I find it strange when some people argue that it should not be allowed to defend itself and take measures that are suitable for this," he added.

However, Germany still refuses to deliver long-range missiles (more than 500 km) to Ukraine, unlike Paris and Washington DC.

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned of "serious consequences" if Western countries allowed Ukraine to use their weapons to strike targets in Russia.

For his part, Emmanuel Macron sought to bury the hatchet with Berlin after the latter initiated a European anti-missile shield project, without including Paris.

Other differing views such as economic links to China and the US have also rocked the Franco-German relationship.

While Macron supports greater