German Chancellor Olaf Scholz yesterday rejected the possibility of his country providing Ukraine with precision long-range weapons, regardless of decisions made by NATO allies.He indicated that supplying Germany’s Taurus cruise missiles to Kyiv would lead to a “great risk of escalation” in the conflict.The Taurus missiles have a range of about 500 kilometers and could be used to attack Moscow from Ukrainian territory.
“I said no,” emphasized Scholz, adding that “this applies to other weapons as well.”He pointed out that he would not change his stance even if other countries decide to act differently.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been urging Ukraine’s allies to provide long-range weapons to enable attacks on Russian logistical and military airfields located far behind the front line, even on Russian territory.
The longest-range weapon Germany has so far sent to Kyiv is the MARS II rocket launcher, which can hit targets at a distance of 84 kilometers.The USA, UK, and France have sent cruise missiles to Ukraine with ranges up to 300 kilometers.
