On Tuesday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron expressed support for Ukraine’s use of Western weapons to attack Russian positions inside Russia.
Macron said in a press conference with the German chancellor that “we think that we should let them remove military installations where rockets are launched from…[that] lead to attacks on Ukraine,” after talks between the two leaders at Schloss Meseberg, Germany’s official state guest house.
However, he stated: “We must not allow them to hit other targets in Russia including civilian facilities.”
The French leader’s remarks were made on the last day of his official visit to Germany.
Scholz was more careful but had no legal objections to Macron’s move. He emphasized that as long as Ukraine respected international law and the conditions of countries supplying the weapons, it was “allowed to defend itself.”
“Ukraine is doing what international law gives it every right to do so. I have been told this before. It is strange when people say it shouldn’t protect itself and take measures adequate in such cases,” Scholz added.
Germany and other countries have stipulated tight requirements for providing arms to Ukraine aimed at preventing their usage against targets located in Russia which might cause an escalation of hostilities.
Scholz had recently noted that long-range Taurus missiles would not be sent by Germany to Ukraine because they could reach Moscow once launched from Ukrainian soil.
Russia’s president Vladimir Putin has warned about “serious consequences” if Western states allow Ukraine to use their weapons against Russian territory.
Macron awarded peace prize in Münster
In the morning, Macron traveled westwards where he received the International Award of Peace in Westphalia by Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German President.
Steinmeier thanked Macron for his love towards France as its passionate European neighbour saying “It is due to people like you that we are so close today.”
“Therefore, there were occasions when he approached us, including a few times, for example in the case of Germany – even though it was not easy.”
The International Peace Prize of Westphalia is an award that is given every other year by the private sector to an individual or representative of a group or state who has supported European solidarity.
Initially, it had been planned for 2023 but Macron’s state visit was postponed because of internal violence in France at that time as he sought to introduce pension reforms.
“Emmanuel Macron is a fighter for freedom and peace in Europe,” according to the jury which particularly mentioned his efforts towards enhancing European security both prior and after Russia all-out invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Macron calls for common European defense strategy
“It seems like a paradox to me that I am receiving a peace prize during wartime,” (paradox) said Macron in his acceptance speech before adding that there should be joint European defense.
“But also, if we want peace we must take risks. If we go about things in nationalist manner, Ukraine will lose and Europe won’t have peace over many years.”
“I think we need to be more optimistic,” he went on, “to me optimism as a European means Europe is the right answer.”
According to Macron, whether it is the war in Ukraine, climate crisis or threats of democracy: “We must begin the next stage of Europe; we have to build our European defense and stop being dependent on our US partners.”
“What has been happening over the past few years clearly shows that for us to maintain peace on our continent we should consolidate our own European power,” she said mentioning especially the process of creating a single European Air-Defense.
Macron warns against authoritarianism threat
Afterwards, Macron and Steinmeier signed Münster’s Golden Book at city hall before speaking from its balcony to assembled crowds.
Applause was widespread but there were also boos and whistles from supporters of Palestine and opponents of nuclear energy.
On the first day of his state visit on Sunday, Macron praised German-French friendship and played table football with Steinmeier in Berlin. He started day two by visiting Berlin’s Holocaust Memorial and finished it in Dresden where he gave a warning about authoritarianism both in French and German languages while proposing that “the centre of Europe” united.
