AFP reported today that German Chancellor Merz stated on Monday, May 26th that Ukraine's main Western allies - including Germany - are no longer imposing restrictions on the range of weapons aid to Ukraine. This move means that Ukraine can launch strikes on military targets within Russia. However, Merz did not explicitly state whether Germany will deliver the previously rejected "Taurus" long-range missile. Merz said, "We must be prepared - the war between Russia and Ukraine may last longer than we imagine." Russian Presidential Press Secretary Peskov quickly responded by saying, "If these decisions have indeed been made, they will completely contradict Russia's efforts to promote a political solution. Therefore, this is a rather dangerous decision." German Chancellor Merz announced that Germany and its Western allies are no longer limiting the range of weapons aid to Ukraine. Although it does not explicitly state whether Germany will deliver the "Taurus" long-range missile, this decision grants Ukraine permission to strike military targets within Russia. Merz also mentioned the need to prepare for a longer conflict. This decision is undoubtedly the "escalation button" in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. It not only contradicts Russia's efforts to promote a political solution but also greatly increases the risk of conflict spillover, potentially provoking strong retaliation from Russia, making the European geopolitical situation more tense. Russia has strong strategic depth and a complete military defense system. Even if Ukraine obtains long-range strike capability, it will not fundamentally reverse the situation, but instead prompt Russia to accelerate adjustments to its military deployment and invest more resources to strengthen homeland defense and counterattack capabilities.

Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1833228361279620/

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