Germany confirms no change in stance on Ukraine missiles
Germany has decided against providing long-range weaponry to Ukraine, despite reports indicating a shift in US policy that would permit attacks within Russian territory. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Chancellor Olaf Scholz remains opposed to sending long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, despite reports that US President Joe Biden has permitted Ukraine to undertake limited long-range strikes using ATACMS missiles.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has confirmed that the German government will not approve the transfer of long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine for strikes within Russian territory, even in light of a reported shift in the US stance. Multiple news sources indicated on Sunday that Biden has authorized Ukraine to conduct long-range strikes against deep Russian targets. Moscow has warned that such actions would be viewed as crossing a significant boundary and could be regarded as a direct act of war against a NATO member. While the US, UK, and France have previously supplied Ukraine with long-range weaponry, Germany has consistently declined to do so.
Pistorius stated, “The decision by Washington doesn’t change our assessment at the moment,” when questioned about whether Scholz would reconsider sending Taurus missiles to Kyiv. He added that there is currently “no reason to make a different decision” while visiting a helicopter manufacturing facility in Bavaria. Instead, he noted that Germany plans to provide 4,000 drones equipped with AI-assisted piloting technology.
A German government spokesperson mentioned that Berlin was informed of Washington's policy change ahead of time. The Foreign Ministry reiterated that none of the weapons Germany has supplied to Ukraine are classified as long-range.
Scholz has maintained that providing Taurus missiles would implicate Germany directly in the conflict, a stance that has invited criticism from some partners within his now-collapsed ruling coalition and various senior opposition figures.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressed support for Biden’s decision, stating her party, the Greens, views the issue similarly to their Eastern European partners and the US, UK, and France. In an interview with RBB Inforadio on Monday, she emphasized this alignment.
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, an MP from the Free Democratic Party and chair of the Bundestag Defense Committee, labeled the American decision as long overdue. On Deutschlandfunk radio, she urged Scholz to reconsider the potential donation of Taurus missiles.
The Greens and the FDP were junior partners in Scholz’s coalition, which fell apart earlier this month. The Christian Democrats, Germany's primary opposition party, support sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine. Politicians critical of the West's overall approach to the conflict have gained increasing popularity this year.
Germany is anticipated to hold a snap federal election in early 2025.
Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has confirmed that the German government will not approve the transfer of long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine for strikes within Russian territory, even in light of a reported shift in the US stance. Multiple news sources indicated on Sunday that Biden has authorized Ukraine to conduct long-range strikes against deep Russian targets. Moscow has warned that such actions would be viewed as crossing a significant boundary and could be regarded as a direct act of war against a NATO member. While the US, UK, and France have previously supplied Ukraine with long-range weaponry, Germany has consistently declined to do so.
Pistorius stated, “The decision by Washington doesn’t change our assessment at the moment,” when questioned about whether Scholz would reconsider sending Taurus missiles to Kyiv. He added that there is currently “no reason to make a different decision” while visiting a helicopter manufacturing facility in Bavaria. Instead, he noted that Germany plans to provide 4,000 drones equipped with AI-assisted piloting technology.
A German government spokesperson mentioned that Berlin was informed of Washington's policy change ahead of time. The Foreign Ministry reiterated that none of the weapons Germany has supplied to Ukraine are classified as long-range.
Scholz has maintained that providing Taurus missiles would implicate Germany directly in the conflict, a stance that has invited criticism from some partners within his now-collapsed ruling coalition and various senior opposition figures.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressed support for Biden’s decision, stating her party, the Greens, views the issue similarly to their Eastern European partners and the US, UK, and France. In an interview with RBB Inforadio on Monday, she emphasized this alignment.
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, an MP from the Free Democratic Party and chair of the Bundestag Defense Committee, labeled the American decision as long overdue. On Deutschlandfunk radio, she urged Scholz to reconsider the potential donation of Taurus missiles.
The Greens and the FDP were junior partners in Scholz’s coalition, which fell apart earlier this month. The Christian Democrats, Germany's primary opposition party, support sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine. Politicians critical of the West's overall approach to the conflict have gained increasing popularity this year.
Germany is anticipated to hold a snap federal election in early 2025.
Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
