For Germany's Scholz, Taurus missiles are a bridge too far in Ukraine
Germany's Chancellor opposes providing long-range weapons to Ukraine due to concerns about requiring tactical assistance from Berlin, conflicting with NATO's containment efforts.
- Bilawal Riaz
- 1 min read
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has reiterated his stance against providing Kyiv with German Taurus cruise missiles during a parliamentary session, citing concerns that supplying such long-range weapons would necessitate tactical assistance from Berlin, which conflicts with NATO’s position of containing the conflict in Ukraine. The missiles, capable of hitting targets up to 500 kilometers away, have sparked debate in Germany, with opposition lawmakers criticizing Scholz for not trusting Ukraine to manage the missiles independently. Ukrainian officials have clarified that the missiles would be used to target Russian ammunition depots and supply routes, not Moscow. The discussion around supplying these missiles intensified following the revelation of an intercepted conversation where German officials explored ways to limit German involvement if the weaponry were provided to Ukraine. Germany has been a significant military aid provider to Ukraine, with approximately €28 billion worth of equipment already provided or planned for in the coming years.