Scholz’s refusal to give Ukraine Taurus missile “increasingly incomprehensible,” Munich Security Conference chief says
The Munich Security Conference's chief challenges German Chancellor Scholz’s refusal to send Taurus missiles to Ukraine, saying Scholz's rejection is "becoming increasingly incomprehensible."
Following the US delivery of ATACMS missiles to Ukraine, the head of the Munich Security Conference, Christoph Heusgen, has called on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to reconsider his no to the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles.
Since May 2023, Ukraine has been actively urging Germany to supply Taurus missiles to enhance their capability to disrupt Russian logistics, yet Berlin hesitates, contrasting with the UK and France’s decision to provide Ukraine with Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles and the US decision to send its ATACMS. The German government’s reluctance reportedly stems from fears of escalating the war by giving Ukraine the means to strike targets within Russia.
“In this context, the Chancellor’s decision not to deliver the Taurus missiles to Ukraine is becoming increasingly incomprehensible,” Heusgen told RND. “We are currently experiencing how similar US weapons – the ATACMS – are having a major impact.”
The ATACMS missile, with a range of up to 300 kilometers, can strike deep behind the front line, though it has a shorter range compared to the Taurus, which can reach up to 500 kilometers and could theoretically target Moscow, RND notes.
“In recent weeks, we Europeans have had to painfully realize that our arms deliveries to Ukraine are not enough to stop the brutal Russian aggression,” Heusgen said.
According to RND, Scholz stated that he did not want to supply the Tauruses to avoid drawing Germany into the Russo-Ukrainian war. Meanwhile, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius mentioned that the issue involves other security concerns, without specifying what these are.
“We Europeans must not sit back now, on the contrary, we must use the breathing space to prepare ourselves for long-term support for Ukraine,” Heusgen said, adding that only when Russian President Vladimir Putin is convinced he could not win this war, he would enter peace negotiations.
Scholz reluctant to transfer Taurus to Ukraine since last May
Read also:
- Scholz’s Taurus missile refusal tied to fear of Putin’s nuclear threats, says Zelenskyy
- The US wants the provision of ATACMS to Ukraine to prompt Berlin to make a decision on Taurus
- BILD: Delays in deliveries of 400 German armored vehicle to Ukraine exposed by leaked documents
- German Quantum-Systems opens its drone factory in Ukraine
- Scholz hopes to find six more Patriot systems in NATO countries
- Germany to transfer additional Patriot system to Ukraine to repel Russian attacks on infrastructure
- Scholz rejects Taurus missile deployment due to escalation fears
- Scholz refuses Taurus delivery to Ukraine again, media speculate “secret reasons”
- Taurus leak reveals Germany’s dilemma as Europe awakens to new security reality
