Scholz did not answer Izvestia's question on possible missile strikes deep inside Russia

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday, November 18, on the margins of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, refused to answer a question from Izvestia correspondent Viktor Sineok about possible US permission for Ukraine to strike Russia with long-range missiles.

"Mr. Scholz, do you really want Ukraine to fire long-range weapons at Russia?" - Sineok asked his question.

Scholz, walking past the reporter, looked in his direction and remained silent.

Summit volunteers prevented Sineok from approaching the chancellor and then pushed the Izvestia correspondent aside.

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Earlier, on November 17, The New York Times reported that U.S. President Joe Biden allegedly authorized Ukraine to use U.S. long-range missiles to strike Russia. The Le Figaro newspaper said at the same time that the French and British authorities had made a similar decision, but then removed this information from the article. European Union (EU) diplomacy chief Josep Borrell said afterward that on November 18-19, the issue of lifting restrictions on strikes deep into Russia with European weapons would be discussed.

Talking to journalists on 18 November, US Deputy National Security Adviser to the President John Feiner did not confirm that the White House had given Ukraine such authorization. The official emphasized that the USA is guided by the situation on the battlefield in its political decisions on this crisis. Scholz, for his part, said at the time that Germany has its own principles and its decision not to transfer Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine remains unchanged.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that allowing Ukraine to use ATACMS for strikes on Russian territory would be a qualitatively new round of tension, and the position of the Russian Federation and President Vladimir Putin on this issue is clear to everyone. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova emphasized that Kiev's possible use of long-range missiles for such purposes would receive an "adequate and tangible" response.

Western countries have stepped up military and financial support for Ukraine amid Russia's special operation to protect Donbass, which began on February 24, 2022. The decision to conduct it was taken by the Russian president because of the aggravation of the situation in the region due to the increased shelling by Ukrainian troops.