FRANKFURT: German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius reiterated on Thursday that Germany would not provide Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles, citing it as “not a top priority” at the moment.
Ukraine had requested Germany’s assistance in late May to acquire Taurus air-to-surface cruise missiles with a range of over 500 kilometers (310 miles). However, the German government has consistently turned down the request, with Pistorius emphasizing that it was not their primary concern currently.
During a visit to a mountain infantry brigade in Bavaria, Pistorius expressed concerns about supplying “special range” missiles to Ukraine, stating that “our American allies are not delivering these cruise missiles either.” Although Germany has significantly increased its support to Ukraine, becoming the second-largest supplier of military aid to Kyiv after the United States, the country remains cautious about sending weaponry that could potentially reach nuclear-armed Russia, which could escalate the ongoing conflict that began with Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Germany’s Military Assistance to Ukraine
Instead, Germany is focusing on providing other forms of military assistance to Ukraine, including air defense, training support, engineering, and armored vehicles. Pistorius highlighted that this assistance remains their core priority and expertise, and he sees no immediate need to make a decision on supplying the Swedish-German Taurus weapon system.
While Germany declines to provide long-range missiles, France recently announced its decision to join Britain in supplying SCALP/Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine, which have a range of over 250 kilometers. The situation underscores the differing approaches among European countries in aiding Ukraine amid the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War and the complexities of ensuring regional security and stability.
