A German politician has expressed criticism over the decision to lift the range restrictions on Western weapons being sent to Ukraine. Ralf Stegner, a member of the Social Democratic Party in the German Bundestag, stated in an interview with the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland that he finds public discussions of this kind unhelpful. “When Charkiw was attacked, it was justified to make an exception” he said. “However, I find it wrong to expand the war in general. I think it’s right to strengthen diplomatic efforts instead.”
Stegner also emphasized that, in the end, there is no alternative to negotiations. He criticized the idea that military means can be used to force Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table, stating that it did not work and that, in the end, there is no alternative to dialogue.
In contrast, Agnieszka Brugger, the deputy chair of the Green Party’s parliamentary group, welcomed the decision to lift the range restrictions and linked it to the demand for the delivery of Turkish-made Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. “The lifting of the range restrictions in line with our most important partners is logical and overdue” she said in an interview with the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland. “However, it must be accompanied by concrete capabilities. The Ukraine still lacks sufficient stockpiles, which means that Germany’s Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, must stand by his word and create the conditions for the delivery of the Taurus cruise missiles as quickly as possible.”
Brugger also emphasized the need for a strong response to Russia’s actions, stating that it would be a mistake to take them lying down. She argued that every sign of weakness would only lead to further escalation by the Kremlin and that, under international law, a state has the right to defend itself by attacking military targets on the aggressor’s territory, as long as it does so in accordance with international law.