German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Germany would not prohibit Ukrainian attacks on Russian military targets, saying Ukraine "is allowed to defend itself."
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00:00Whilst German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had previously been firm on Ukraine not using Western weapons
00:05to strike Russian targets, he made a step in the direction of French President Emmanuel
00:10Macron on the third and last day of the French leader's historic state visit to Germany.
00:17Both leaders put their disagreements aside on Tuesday near Berlin and compromised on
00:22the divisive subject of EU defence.
00:25The German Chancellor was also more open in terms of military aid to Ukraine, saying
00:30Kiev should be allowed to hit military sites inside Russia, but not other targets.
00:36A turning point for Berlin, since the Chancellor had been reluctant to let Ukraine strike over
00:42the border, fearing it could lead to a direct confrontation with nuclear-armed Moscow.
00:55For his part, Emmanuel Macron buried the hatchet with Berlin after the latter initiated
01:13a European anti-missile shield project without including Paris.
01:18Other differing views, such as economic links to China and the US, have also rocked the
01:23Franco-German relationship recently.
01:25Whilst Macron supports greater European independence in defence and to shield the EU economy from
01:32unfair Chinese and American competition, Scholz underlines the importance of transatlantic
01:38treaties and trade relations with China.
01:42This meeting, ahead of the EU vote, marks a turning point in domestic EU politics.
01:49The goal of the historic state visit was to show a united Franco-German front as both
01:54leaders face predicted defeats at the hands of far-right parties less than two weeks ahead
02:00of the EU elections.