Germany Declines to Supply Long-Range Missiles to Ukraine, Says Defense Minister
Germany will refrain from sending long-range weapons to Ukraine, despite reports of a shift in US policy that permits strikes within Russia. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Chancellor Olaf Scholz remains firm in his opposition to providing long-range Taurus weapons to Ukraine, even in light of reports that US President Joe Biden has permitted Kiev to conduct limited long-range strikes using ATACMS missiles.
According to Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, the German government does not plan to authorize the delivery of long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine for attacks deep within Russian territory, despite what appears to be a shift in US policy.
It has been reported that President Biden has given Ukraine approval to carry out long-range strikes against targets deep inside Russia with US-donated ATACMS missiles, a development that has been covered by multiple news outlets. Moscow has warned that such actions would be seen as crossing a red line and could be interpreted as a direct act of war against a NATO country. While the US, UK, and France have previously supplied long-range weaponry to Ukraine, Germany has refrained from doing so.
Pistorius addressed the matter during a press conference on Monday, stating that the recent decision by the US “doesn’t change our assessment at the moment.” He indicated that there is currently “no reason to make a different decision” regarding Chancellor Scholz’s stance on sending Taurus missiles to Kiev. Instead, he noted that Germany aims to deliver 4,000 drones equipped with AI-assisted piloting.
According to a German government spokesperson, Washington notified Berlin of its policy change beforehand. The German Foreign Ministry reiterated that none of the military aid provided to Ukraine includes long-range weapon systems.
Scholz has articulated his reluctance to provide Taurus missiles to Ukraine by asserting that such a decision would render Germany a direct participant in the conflict. His stance has faced criticism from certain members of his now-defunct ruling coalition, as well as from some prominent opposition figures.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressed approval regarding reports of Biden’s decision, stating that her party, the Greens, “sees this issue in the same way as our Eastern European partner, the British, the French and the Americans,” in an interview with RBB Inforadio on Monday.
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, chair of the Bundestag Defense Committee and a member of the Free Democratic Party, labeled the reported American decision as long overdue. During an appearance on Deutschlandfunk radio, she urged Scholz to reconsider his position on providing Taurus missiles.
The Greens and the FDP served as junior partners in the coalition led by Scholz's Social Democrats, which came to an end earlier this month. The Christian Democrats, Germany’s leading opposition party, advocate for sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine. Meanwhile, politicians critical of the broader Western approach to the conflict have seen a rise in popularity in recent months.
As political dynamics shift, Germany is anticipated to hold a snap federal election in early 2025.
Navid Kalantari contributed to this report for TROIB News
According to Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, the German government does not plan to authorize the delivery of long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine for attacks deep within Russian territory, despite what appears to be a shift in US policy.
It has been reported that President Biden has given Ukraine approval to carry out long-range strikes against targets deep inside Russia with US-donated ATACMS missiles, a development that has been covered by multiple news outlets. Moscow has warned that such actions would be seen as crossing a red line and could be interpreted as a direct act of war against a NATO country. While the US, UK, and France have previously supplied long-range weaponry to Ukraine, Germany has refrained from doing so.
Pistorius addressed the matter during a press conference on Monday, stating that the recent decision by the US “doesn’t change our assessment at the moment.” He indicated that there is currently “no reason to make a different decision” regarding Chancellor Scholz’s stance on sending Taurus missiles to Kiev. Instead, he noted that Germany aims to deliver 4,000 drones equipped with AI-assisted piloting.
According to a German government spokesperson, Washington notified Berlin of its policy change beforehand. The German Foreign Ministry reiterated that none of the military aid provided to Ukraine includes long-range weapon systems.
Scholz has articulated his reluctance to provide Taurus missiles to Ukraine by asserting that such a decision would render Germany a direct participant in the conflict. His stance has faced criticism from certain members of his now-defunct ruling coalition, as well as from some prominent opposition figures.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressed approval regarding reports of Biden’s decision, stating that her party, the Greens, “sees this issue in the same way as our Eastern European partner, the British, the French and the Americans,” in an interview with RBB Inforadio on Monday.
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, chair of the Bundestag Defense Committee and a member of the Free Democratic Party, labeled the reported American decision as long overdue. During an appearance on Deutschlandfunk radio, she urged Scholz to reconsider his position on providing Taurus missiles.
The Greens and the FDP served as junior partners in the coalition led by Scholz's Social Democrats, which came to an end earlier this month. The Christian Democrats, Germany’s leading opposition party, advocate for sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine. Meanwhile, politicians critical of the broader Western approach to the conflict have seen a rise in popularity in recent months.
As political dynamics shift, Germany is anticipated to hold a snap federal election in early 2025.
Navid Kalantari contributed to this report for TROIB News
