Chancellor Scholz Maintains Stance Against Sending Taurus Missiles to Ukraine – Sky Bulletin

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In a recent press conference on February 26, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz confirmed his position of not supplying Ukraine with Taurus long-range missiles. This announcement came shortly after the German parliament declined a motion to provide Ukraine with these specific missiles on February 22.

The Taurus missiles, capable of hitting targets up to 500 kilometers (310 miles) away, have been at the center of intense debates since Ukraine’s request in May 2023 to receive them.

Scholz’s opposition to providing Kyiv with Taurus missiles stems from concerns that it could potentially involve Germany directly in the conflict. Ukraine, however, has been able to secure other types of long-range missiles such as the U.K.’s Storm Shadow and SCALP missiles from France.

Despite the rejection of the Taurus missiles, the German parliament backed the motion to send other unspecified long-range weapons to Ukraine.

During the press conference, Scholz elaborated on the differences in targeting systems between the Taurus and the missiles already supplied to Ukraine, stating that the former’s targeting cannot take place from German soil.

Scholz has previously expressed concerns that to operate the Taurus system, German personnel would need to deploy to Ukraine for targeting assistance – a scenario he has definitively rejected.

He restated his position against the deployment of German soldiers for the targeting of Russian forces and insisted that no German troops would be present in Ukraine.

He characterized the debate over Taurus missiles as “very irritating,” stressing that the discourse should instead focus on Ukraine’s dire need for additional ammunition.

It’s been noted that due to a lengthy deadlock in the U.S. Congress, support for Ukraine has waned, subsequently affecting the nation’s military capabilities.

Bundestag declines providing Taurus missiles to Ukraine, favors dispatch of ‘necessary long-range missiles’

On February 22, the German Bundestag voted against a proposal to send Taurus missiles to Ukraine, yet supported a separate motion to supply other essential long-range weaponry.

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