Great Britain, France, Germany and the United States have lifted restrictions on the types of weapons that can be supplied to Ukraine, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced on May 26. (video)

The move clears the way for the EU to send its most powerful and long-range missiles to Kyiv that can strike targets deep inside Russian territory, something the allies have been reluctant to do for fears of escalating tensions with the Kremlin and possibly provoking a direct clash between Russia and Nato countries in Europe.

"There are no longer any range restrictions on weapons supplied to Ukraine, not from the British, not from the French, not from us, not from the Americans either. This means that Ukraine can now also defend itself by attacking military positions in Russia, for example,” Merz said during an interview on German television. “It couldn't do that until some time ago, and with very few exceptions, it didn't do that until some time ago. Now it can. In jargon, we call this long-range fire, i.e., equipping Ukraine with weapons that attack military targets in the rear.”

The decision comes the day after Russia launched a devastating missile and drone barrage on Ukraine over the weekend of May 23-25 that largely targeted civilian targets in Kyiv and many other urban centres in Ukraine – amongst the largest attacks since the war started over three years ago.

Germany is one of the top four leaders of the coalition of the willing (CoW4) – Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Merz – who are coordinating European aid to Ukraine, as support from the US wanes under the leadership of US President Donald Trump.

The decision also clears the way for Germany to deliver its powerful Taurus cruise missiles that Kyiv had been asking for, but Berlin had so far been reluctant to supply. Merz didn’t mention the Taurus missiles by name during his interview, but has suggested that unlike former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, he was not against supplying Kyiv with the missile, which can hit Russian targets deep in the rear or could destroy the Kerch bridge connecting Russia to the Crimean peninsula.

The UK and France have also been delivering the power Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine in limited numbers and presumably Merz’s announcement will clear the way for more of these weapons to be delivered to Ukraine.

While the COW4 have been closely coordinating their support of Ukraine and met in Kyiv earlier this month in a show of solidarity and to announce “bone-crushing” sanctions, it is not clear if the decision to increase the power and range of weapon deliveries has also been approved by the US. Merz said the decision had been approved “also by the USA” but so far the Trump administration has made no major commitments to supplying Ukraine with more weapons.

The US involvement is important even if it does not send fresh supplies of weapons, as the European missiles rely on US satellite systems to find their targets and need active participation by the US for their use. It’s this direct participation by Nato forces in firing these missiles nominally controlled by Ukraine that has been the basis of the Western concerns that supplying the weapons could provoke Russia retaliation against Nato.

Merz focused on the brutal attack at the weekend, which some politicians say breaks the Geneva Convention rules on targeting innocents in wartime. “That is the decisive qualitative difference in Ukraine's warfare. Russia attacks civilian targets absolutely ruthlessly, bombing cities, kindergartens, hospitals and old people's homes. Ukraine does not do that,” said Merz. “And we attach great importance to keeping it that way. But a country that can only defend itself against an attacker on its own territory is not defending itself adequately. And this defence of Ukraine is now also taking place against military infrastructure on Russian territory."

Germany to send outdated Patriots to Ukraine

Germany does not plan to supply Ukraine with its most advanced PAC-3 (Patriot Advanced Capability-3) missiles and will instead send older PAC-2 variants, The Washington Post reported on May 25, citing a European diplomat familiar with the matter.

The diplomat stated that Berlin would deliver the PAC-2 missiles, which “are not as effective at intercepting ballistic missiles.” The report did not specify when the deliveries would take place or how many missiles would be included in the transfer.

Ukraine’s stocks of Patiots are reportedly running low and Bankova has been pressing Western allies for more and more advanced air defence systems to counter the Russian missile and drone attacks.

While the PAC-3 interceptor offers enhanced capability against modern threats such as ballistic missiles and advanced aircraft, the PAC-2 system was designed primarily to target aircraft and some cruise missiles.

On May 10, The New York Times reported that the United States had approved Germany’s transfer of 125 long-range artillery rockets and 100 Patriot air defence missiles to Ukraine. Under American export control laws, weapons manufactured in the US cannot be re-exported by third countries without prior authorisation from Washington.

According to The Washington Post, the US decision to greenlight the transfer came shortly after it signed a minerals agreement with Ukraine. Germany has previously sent a Patriot air defence system to Ukraine, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz confirmed in April that a second system would be delivered soon.

Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Ukraine had requested more Patriot launchers and missiles from the Trump administration, "which, frankly, we don’t have," he added. The US is encouraging its NATO allies to donate Patriot missiles and systems from their stockpiles. But "none of these countries want to give up their Patriot systems, either," Rubio added.

According to The Washington Post, Kyiv believes that the US will sell ammunition for Patriot systems to Ukraine rather than provide it free of charge as the previous administration did.