Germany has told Ukraine not to target Russian territory with weapons that it has supplied to Kiev, Chancellor Olaf Scholz outlined on Monday.
He added that Berlin has not taken any unilateral steps when it comes to arming Kiev and is only acting in coordination with ITS allies, during a town hall meeting in the western state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Scholz insisted that his government intends to stick to that policy in the future.
“It’s important for us that weapons that we supply for Ukraine to defend itself aren’t used in attacks on the Russian territory,” the chancellor said. However he didn't explain his definition of Russian territory and whether he means the country's 1991, 2014 or 22 borders.
While assisting Kiev with arms, including Leopard 2 main battle tanks, Berlin is also doing everything to avoid an escalation that could lead to a direct clash between NATO and Moscow, Scholz stressed.
