BERLIN, February 26. /TASS/. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has reiterated that he objects to supplying Kiev with Taurus cruise missiles, citing concerns that his country could find itself dragged into the conflict.
"We should not be linked with any targets this system may reach in any way," he told a conference organized by the DPA news agency. "And we must make this clear. I am shocked that some don’t care, that they don’t even stop and think that it might come to [us] being dragged into the war because of what we are doing."
"These are very long-range weapons. And what is being done to control [the missiles’] flight to a target by the British and French, cannot be done in Germany. And anyone who has ever dealt with this system knows this," he said, adding that he is "upset" by the "lack of balance" between what Kiev really needs and discussions about Taurus.
According to the German chancellor, Ukraine needs various types of munitions fir of all while "this system from Germany" can hardly play a decisive role. "I’ve explained why this is not being taken into account. And that's that," Scholz added.
Ukraine has long been asking Germany to supply Taurus missiles. On February 22, Bundestag, or German parliament, supported a resolution calling for supplies of long-range weapons to Kiev, although not mentioning Taurus by name. On the same day, Bundestag voted down a resolution initiated by the opposition bloc demanding that Germany supply Kiev with Taurus missiles.
In October 2023, Scholz made a decision not to send Taurus missiles to Kiev. He repeatedly said that weapons supplies to Ukraine were agreed with the partners. In his words, Germany’s priority is too supply Kiev with air defense systems and artillery rounds.
Taurus are seen as an analogue with British Strom Shadow missile, which have already been transferred to Ukraine, but have a longer range - up to 500 kilometers.