German government: Kiev's cross-border attack conducted in 'secrecy'

The German government was not informed in advance about the details of Ukraine's incursion into Russian territory, the deputy government spokesman said on Monday.

Kiev apparently prepared the cross-border offensive into Russia's Kursk region "in great secrecy and without feedback" from partners, Wolfgang Büchner said.

"Everything so far looks like a spatially limited operation," he added.

Nearly a week into the surprise attack by Ukraine, Büchner said it would be "unwise" to make public statements about the military operation since the situation was still very fluid.

"This also applies to the use of specific weapons systems," said Büchner, who was asked about suggestions that German weapons may be in use in Kursk.

Büchner said that Berlin and Kiev are in close communication.

The German Defence Ministry separately explained that there are no fundamental objections to Ukraine's use of weapons supplied by Germany to fight Russian forces in Russia.

A ministry spokesman said international law stipulates that a defending state may defend itself on the territory of the aggressor, adding that Ukraine had so far been in compliance with the law.