German defense chief says cruise missiles wouldn't be a ‘game changer’ for Ukraine
According to Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, German Taurus cruise missiles would not significantly influence the conflict in Ukraine. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Boris Pistorius has defended Berlin’s decision to withhold the delivery of Taurus long-range munitions to Kiev. The German defense minister argued that the potential delivery of Taurus air-launched cruise missiles to Ukraine would not significantly alter the situation on the battlefield.
In an interview with ARD on Sunday, Pistorius addressed concerns from some EU officials regarding the possibility of a suspension of military aid to Kiev if Donald Trump returns to the US presidency in January. “There are arguments about the Taurus that are relevant to national security and NATO strategies, and we should not discuss them [publicly],” he said when asked if Germany should reconsider its decision not to supply Ukraine with the 500 km range missiles. He emphasized, “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 had 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.
On Friday, Scholz and Russian President Vladimir Putin held their first phone call in nearly two years, during which Scholz reaffirmed Berlin’s commitment to support Kiev. The German leader is currently facing a no-confidence vote and a snap election early next year following the collapse of the ruling coalition over budgetary issues. In recent years, Berlin has shifted billions of euros from domestic spending to aid Ukraine.
Pistorius’ interview coincided with reports from multiple news organizations indicating that outgoing US President Joe Biden had reversed a prior policy, now allowing Ukraine to use American-made ATACMS missiles to strike Russia’s internationally recognized territory. Putin previously remarked that the expansion of strikes using Western long-range weapons would “change the nature of the conflict” with Ukraine and signal NATO’s direct participation.
Ramin Sohrabi contributed to this report for TROIB News
In an interview with ARD on Sunday, Pistorius addressed concerns from some EU officials regarding the possibility of a suspension of military aid to Kiev if Donald Trump returns to the US presidency in January. “There are arguments about the Taurus that are relevant to national security and NATO strategies, and we should not discuss them [publicly],” he said when asked if Germany should reconsider its decision not to supply Ukraine with the 500 km range missiles. He emphasized, “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 had 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.
On Friday, Scholz and Russian President Vladimir Putin held their first phone call in nearly two years, during which Scholz reaffirmed Berlin’s commitment to support Kiev. The German leader is currently facing a no-confidence vote and a snap election early next year following the collapse of the ruling coalition over budgetary issues. In recent years, Berlin has shifted billions of euros from domestic spending to aid Ukraine.
Pistorius’ interview coincided with reports from multiple news organizations indicating that outgoing US President Joe Biden had reversed a prior policy, now allowing Ukraine to use American-made ATACMS missiles to strike Russia’s internationally recognized territory. Putin previously remarked that the expansion of strikes using Western long-range weapons would “change the nature of the conflict” with Ukraine and signal NATO’s direct participation.
Ramin Sohrabi contributed to this report for TROIB News
