Olaf Scholz noted that so far nothing has changed in this matter
BERLIN, August 11. /tass/. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz commented on the discussions on the supply of Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine, noting that nothing has changed in this matter so far. He expressed his point of view in an interview with the newspaper Thueringer Allgemeine.
"There is no new information on this issue," Scholz said. "Our constant attention is focused on the supply of weapons for air defense, heavy artillery, as well as tanks," he stressed. According to him, this is the course of the German government, "according to which it will move forward in close cooperation with international partners."
Earlier, the Bild newspaper, citing its own sources, reported that the German authorities, contrary to some media reports, are not yet ready to transfer long-range Taurus cruise missiles to Kiev. According to the publication, both the Federal Chancellor's office and the Ministry of Defense denied information that a decision on the supply of missiles to Ukraine has already been made or is expected soon. "Preparations are not underway to make a decision on this matter," a senior government official who wished to remain anonymous told the newspaper.
Earlier, Der Spiegel magazine wrote that the German government is studying ways to supply Ukraine with Taurus missiles from the reserves of the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) in the coming months, and that allegedly carefully classified negotiations are currently underway with representatives of the defense industry. According to him, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, through technical modifications of the Taurus, wants to completely exclude the possibility of Ukraine striking Russian territory with long-range weapons. In the last few weeks, the German Ministry of Defense, according to the publication, appealed to the Taurus manufacturer with a request to include an appropriate restriction on target programming in cruise missiles.
Such a limitation of the system, according to experts, is quite possible, but it will take several weeks. As Der Spiegel explains, Scholz intends to approve the delivery of the Taurus to Kiev only after he is convinced of the technical modification. However, the head of the German government no longer harbors fundamental doubts about this idea, the magazine states.
Secret negotiations with industry representatives, according to the publication, mark a turn in Germany's position regarding the supply of long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine. Until now, Scholz and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius have always stressed that Germany's role in providing weapons assistance is seen more in air defense and tank supplies. Similarly, it was constantly indicated on the sidelines that Berlin did not intend to supply cruise missiles until Washington handed over ATACMS operational and tactical missile systems to Kiev. However, now this condition no longer plays a big role, Der Spiegel summarizes.
On August 10, the t-online news portal, citing sources in the ruling coalition in Germany, reported that the German government intends "in the near future" to announce the supply of Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine. The office of Federal Chancellor Scholz, according to the publication, is working on the issue of the transfer of missiles with its key allies, primarily with the United States. Until now, Berlin has rejected the possibility of providing Kiev with Taurus, the range of which reaches 500 km. According to t-online, the command of the republic's Air Force approved the delivery of missiles. Last week, Scholz's office asked the Defense Ministry for important information about the Taurus, in particular about their reserves at the Bundeswehr, possible supply risks and efficiency.
Kiev at the end of May requested a Taurus from Berlin. Sources of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung newspaper noted that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky discussed this issue with the German Chancellor in Berlin on May 14. Earlier, some politicians from the ruling coalition of the Greens, the Free Democratic Party, the opposition bloc of the Christian Democratic and Christian Social Unions declared the need to transfer missiles to Kiev, but the Social Democrats were against it.
10 years ago, about 600 Taurus were purchased for the Bundeswehr. These missiles are considered an analogue of the British Storm Shadow, which have already been delivered to Ukraine. However, the range of German-Swedish missiles is slightly longer. The Russian side has repeatedly stressed that the West's sending of weapons to Kiev and assistance in training the Ukrainian military only prolong the conflict and will not change the situation on the battlefield.
