Defense chief says German cruise missiles will not be a ‘game changer’ for Ukraine
According to Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, German Taurus cruise missiles would not have significantly impacted the situation in the Ukraine conflict. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Boris Pistorius has defended Berlin’s choice to withhold the delivery of Taurus long-range munitions to Kiev.
In an interview with broadcaster ARD on Sunday, the German defense chief stated that the potential delivery of the air-launched cruise missiles to Ukraine would not significantly alter the dynamics on the battlefield. His comments come amid concerns from some EU officials regarding the potential implications of President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January, which could lead to the suspension of military aid to Ukraine.
“There are arguments about the Taurus that are relevant to national security and NATO strategies, and we should not discuss them [publicly],” Pistorius remarked when asked if Germany should reconsider its stance on supplying Ukraine with the missiles, which have a range of 500 km. He emphasized that “the Taurus would not be a game changer. Our mission is different. We now have to ensure that Ukraine continues to receive sustainable supplies.”
In September, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz cautioned that providing Ukraine with cruise missiles would equate to direct involvement in the conflict with Russia. “It would only be tenable to deliver [these weapons] if we determine and define the targets ourselves, and that is again not possible if you don’t want to be part of this conflict,” he noted.
Recently, Scholz and Russian President Vladimir Putin held their first phone conversation in nearly two years, during which Scholz reiterated Berlin’s commitment to supporting Kiev.
Scholz currently faces a no-confidence vote and the possibility of a snap election early next year, following the collapse of the ruling coalition over budgetary disagreements. In recent years, Berlin has redirected billions of euros from domestic spending to aid Ukraine.
Pistorius’ remarks coincided with reports from various news organizations indicating that outgoing US President Joe Biden had reversed a previous policy that restricted Ukraine from utilizing American-made ATACMS missiles for attacks on Russia’s internationally recognized territory. Putin has previously warned that the expansion of strikes utilizing Western long-range weapons would “change the nature of the conflict” and would signify NATO’s direct involvement in the assaults against Russia.
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
In an interview with broadcaster ARD on Sunday, the German defense chief stated that the potential delivery of the air-launched cruise missiles to Ukraine would not significantly alter the dynamics on the battlefield. His comments come amid concerns from some EU officials regarding the potential implications of President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January, which could lead to the suspension of military aid to Ukraine.
“There are arguments about the Taurus that are relevant to national security and NATO strategies, and we should not discuss them [publicly],” Pistorius remarked when asked if Germany should reconsider its stance on supplying Ukraine with the missiles, which have a range of 500 km. He emphasized that “the Taurus would not be a game changer. Our mission is different. We now have to ensure that Ukraine continues to receive sustainable supplies.”
In September, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz cautioned that providing Ukraine with cruise missiles would equate to direct involvement in the conflict with Russia. “It would only be tenable to deliver [these weapons] if we determine and define the targets ourselves, and that is again not possible if you don’t want to be part of this conflict,” he noted.
Recently, Scholz and Russian President Vladimir Putin held their first phone conversation in nearly two years, during which Scholz reiterated Berlin’s commitment to supporting Kiev.
Scholz currently faces a no-confidence vote and the possibility of a snap election early next year, following the collapse of the ruling coalition over budgetary disagreements. In recent years, Berlin has redirected billions of euros from domestic spending to aid Ukraine.
Pistorius’ remarks coincided with reports from various news organizations indicating that outgoing US President Joe Biden had reversed a previous policy that restricted Ukraine from utilizing American-made ATACMS missiles for attacks on Russia’s internationally recognized territory. Putin has previously warned that the expansion of strikes utilizing Western long-range weapons would “change the nature of the conflict” and would signify NATO’s direct involvement in the assaults against Russia.
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
