Soeren Pellmann, the co-chair of the Left Party’s parliamentary group in the German Bundestag wanted to know if the federal government was aware that “German-funded Ukrainian deep-strike drones were being used against civilian and military targets in the Russian Federation’s hinterland.” Pellmann also wanted to find out what conclusions the Merz government was drawing from this situation with regard to a potential risk of escalation. These questions he formally put to the Merz government to answer.
The Foreign Office has now provided the MP with a response to Pellmann’s inquiry. As the Berliner Zeitung reported May 29, the German government generally considers Ukrainian attacks on the Russian hinterland to be justified. They would not constitute a violation of international law.
As justification, the Foreign Office cites “Ukraine’s right to self-defense under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.” Accordingly, Ukraine is not required to limit its military operations against Russia to its own territory. However, the humanitarian principles of international law must be observed.”
