Germany’s Foreign Minister Endorses Ukraine’s Right to Self-Defense Against Russian Aggression
Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul affirmed Ukraine’s right to defend itself against Russian aggression, including actions that may “affect Russian territory.” He did not specify what capabilities the Ukrainian military will receive or when these could be deployed, reports 24brussels.
In an interview with the German publication ZEIT, Wadephul addressed the ongoing discussions about military aid to Ukraine and the issue of frozen Russian assets abroad. He remarked that the confiscation of approximately 300 billion euros in Russian funds is a “very complex issue,” involving fundamental legal and financial aspects.
Wadephul acknowledged that the main challenge for military support is not a lack of funds but the limited availability of weapons and the need to ramp up production. He stated that the German government is actively working to resolve this issue.
When questioned about the long-requested Taurus cruise missiles, Wadephul refrained from providing a direct answer, stating that the system is complex and cannot be quickly transferred to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. He had previously criticized the former government of Olaf Scholz for denying Kyiv’s requests. Nonetheless, he emphasized that the issue of Taurus is under “constant review.”
Responding to a journalist’s suggestion that he might change his stance on missile policy, Wadephul reiterated that Ukraine has the full right to self-defense, including actions that would “impact Russian territory.” He added that the German government intentionally does not disclose details about specific weapons systems supplied to Ukraine to avoid informing the Kremlin.
“Ukraine has the right to defend itself against attacks. To this end, Ukraine will also have the capabilities to affect Russian territory. However, we will not inform Putin through the media about which weapons systems we provide to Kyiv,” said the German Foreign Minister.
Recently, Chancellor Friedrich Merz pointed out the complexities in using Taurus, noting that training military personnel requires at least six months.
In May, the German federal government halted detailed information regarding new arms supplies to Ukraine, citing security reasons to ensure that “Putin remains unaware.”
