Germany's foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, has expressed her approval of US President Joe Biden's recent decision to permit Ukraine to target locations deep inside Russia using American-made long-range missiles. Baerbock emphasized the importance of self-defense and protecting one's own people without waiting for threats to materialize.
In a statement on Monday, Baerbock highlighted the need to counter Russian President Vladimir Putin's attempts to instill fear in Europe. She stressed the importance of demonstrating strength and unity within Europe to promote peace and deter aggression.
This endorsement from Baerbock follows a phone call between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Putin, which marked a departure from the European strategy of isolating the Russian leader. The call, seen by some as a move driven by domestic political considerations ahead of an upcoming election in Germany, drew criticism for deviating from the principle of involving Ukraine in discussions about its own security.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed concerns about the implications of Scholz's conversation with Putin, suggesting that it could potentially undermine efforts to keep Russia isolated and lead to negotiations that may not benefit Ukraine.
While Scholz has positioned his Social Democratic Party (SPD) as advocates for peace, Baerbock, co-leader of the Green party, has consistently taken a more assertive stance on Ukraine's right to defend itself against external threats.
