Support from the FDP and CDU for Ukrainian push in Russia
Pro-Ukrainian forces have been conducting an offensive in the Kursk region for several days, according to Russian military reports, involving around 1,000 soldiers and more than two dozen armored vehicles and tanks. This operation has not yet been directly commented on by Ukrainian authorities. Meanwhile, Russian reports also mention Ukrainian attacks in the neighboring Lipetsk region.
CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter also deemed the Ukrainian counterattacks on Russian territory as "legitimate under international law". He stated that this action is covered by Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which allows the attacked party to defend itself, even on the aggressor's territory.
Kiesewetter also commented on the Ukrainian attacks on Russian border areas, saying, "We don't know the actual goals behind this. I suspect it's to tie down Russian forces." It's possible that Ukraine is trying to thwart Russian plans to attack major Ukrainian cities like Kharkiv or Sumy, or perhaps the Ukrainian government is trying to show its population that the country's armed forces are capable of achieving military successes.
Media reports suggest that the Ukrainian side is using weapons supplied by Germany in this push into the Kursk region, including several Marder armored fighting vehicles, according to the Bild newspaper.
Initially, there was no specific statement from the German government on this matter. A spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Defense only stated that "it is the declared goal of the Federal Government to support Ukraine in its defensive struggle against the Russian aggressor".
The spokesperson also referred to a statement by the Federal Government from late May, in which Berlin stated that Ukraine could use weapons supplied by Germany to defend itself against attacks "from the immediately adjacent Russian border region" on the area around Kharkiv.
Strack-Zimmermann told the Funke newspapers that Ukraine is "currently adhering to all agreements that the donor countries have set for them". She expressed her joy that the EU fully supports Ukraine's efforts to restore its territorial integrity and sovereignty and combat illegal Russian aggression.
The Kursk region has seen intense fighting between pro-Ukrainian forces and Russian troops, as reported by Russian military sources. As per CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter, these actions by Ukraine are legitimate under international law, specifically Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
