Experts assess Germany's claims of long-range weapons for Ukraine

According to RIA Novosti on May 27, military and political analyst, candidate of sociological sciences, senior researcher at the Institute of Philosophy of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus Alexander Tikhansky said in an interview with RIA Novosti that the statement of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on lifting restrictions on the supply of long-range weapons to Ukraine and allowing attacks on Russian territory will expand the geography of the conflict.

Earlier, German Chancellor Merz said in an interview with WDR television channel that the US, Germany, UK and France have lifted restrictions on supplying long-range weapons to Ukraine.

“Prime Minister Merz’s statement on lifting restrictions on the supply of long-range weapons to Ukraine and allowing attacks on Russian territory is a serious step that can lead to an escalation of the conflict and have a number of serious consequences. Firstly, this can lead to an escalation of the conflict to unimaginable proportions – allowing attacks on Russian territory can lead to retaliatory strikes from Russia on Ukrainian territory, including all important infrastructure and logistics centers through which Western weapons are delivered. Secondly, it will expand the geography of the conflict,” said expert Alexander Tikhansky.

Expert Tikhansky added that attacks on Russian territory could provoke more active involvement of other countries in the conflict, especially if their interests or security were affected.

“Thirdly, this could lead to an increase in the intensity of hostilities – both sides could turn to more aggressive tactics, which would lead to increased casualties and destruction. And finally, this could contribute to prolonging the conflict, instead of ending quickly, the conflict could enter a protracted phase with unpredictable consequences,” said military expert Alexander Tikhansky.

The expert noted that these statements and actions by the West are mainly due to a change in their strategy.

“Perhaps the West has decided to change its strategy and put more pressure on Russia to force it to the negotiating table on terms more favorable to Ukraine. This may be due to the failures of the Ukrainian Armed Forces at the front and the desire to provide them with more offensive opportunities. Moreover, this may be due to the political pressure exerted on Western leaders today by their elites and allies, who demand more decisive action against Russia,” Tikhansky said.

To keep the West from escalating further, Russia could once again demonstrate its military strength and readiness to defend its interests, the expert said.

On the Russian side, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the decision of European countries to remove restrictions on the range of weapons delivered to Ukraine goes against Russia's aspirations for a political solution to the conflict.

"If such decisions really take place, they completely contradict our aspirations to reach a political settlement and the efforts that are currently being made within the framework of settlement," the Russian leader's press secretary said.