Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he was concerned that he would have to give the coordinates of Russian military targets to Ukraine. This will mean that Germany will become more deeply involved in the war against the Russian Federation.
At the end of September 2023, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius assured that within a week or two a decision would be made on the supply of Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine. Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, chair of the Bundestag Defense Committee, agreed with him: she confirmed the possibility of delivery using the word “immediate”. However, on October 5, German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that the Taurus issue was far from resolved. Politico wrote about the details of the politician’s statement.
According to its head, the German government “at the moment” has two grounds for refusing the delivery of Taurus. For this, first of all, a Constitutional amendment is required. Secondly, this will lead to an escalation of relations with Russia.
Scholz’s statements were made in Granada (Spain), where the EU summit took place. The politician reminded that the war will last a long time and there is still time to decide. He also listed signs of escalation: the Ukrainian Armed Forces will receive the geographical location of the Russian Federation’s military targets from Germany, which will mean that Germany will “ensure a deeper involvement in the war.” Ukraine will also be able to reach the Crimean Bridge, and Scholz is “very worried” about this.
Taurus cruise missiles – known ones
Taurus is an aircraft cruise missile that can fly up to 500 km and reach a speed of 1100 km/h. Its estimated cost is around $1 million. If the Ukrainian Armed Forces had such a missile, it could reach Russian bases in Crimea and even the Crimean Bridge.
Important
The media began to actively report on the possibility of delivery of Taurus in August 2023. However, even though two months have passed, a decision has still not been made. At the same time, German politicians are making contradictory statements. Especially when the Bundestag confirms the possibility of procurement, Scholz once again doubts, denies and waits for the supply of ATACMS.
Meanwhile, the United States allowed the supply of ATACMS missiles launched from the HIMARS MLRS installation to Ukraine. However, it turned out that it was decided to use shorter-range cluster-type projectiles. However, it is not yet known whether the decision has been made and whether ATACMS will come to Ukraine.
We remind you that Ukraine continues to develop its own modern weapons production. In particular, they showed the launch of the S-200 missile, which was converted to attack land targets the other day. There is also news about the maritime drone “Marichka”, which can reach Russian ships in the Black Sea.
Source: Focus
Bridger is a political journalist at 24 News Breaker, covering the Politics section with over 5 years of experience. Known for their detail-oriented reporting, Bridger delivers insightful and engaging analysis on political issues.