German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius on Thursday, Aug. 3, again ruled out supplying Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles, saying it was "not a top priority" right now.
Ukraine asked Germany in late May to provide it with Taurus air-to-surface cruise missiles which have a range in excess of 500 kilometers (310 miles), but the government has so far rebuffed the request.
"We continue to believe that this is not our top priority right now," Pistorius said during a visit to a mountain infantry brigade in Bavaria.
The concerns about sending "special range" missiles to Ukraine "are obvious", Pistorius said.
"Our American allies are not delivering these cruise missiles either," he added.
After some initial hesitation, Germany has drastically ramped up its support for Ukraine and is now the second-biggest supplier of military assistance to Kyiv after the United States.
But like Washington, Berlin remains opposed to sending weapons to Kyiv that could reach inside nuclear-armed Russia, potentially widening the conflict that started with Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Pistorius stressed that Germany was playing a leading role in helping Ukraine with "air defense, training support, engineering and armored vehicles".
"This is our first priority, our core competency," the minister said, adding that he saw "no urgent need for a decision" on the Swedish-German Taurus weapon system.
France last month announced it would join Britain in supplying SCALP/Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine, which have a range of over 250 kilometers.
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Comments (8)
With the exception of UK supplying 'Storm shadow' ( and latterly France ), the reluctance of NATO to supply Ukraine with longer range missiles inc ATACMS, F16 s etc is forcing Ukraine to fight the genocidal Russian invaders with one hand tied behind their backs and its costing Ukraine casualties that the more sophisticated weapons would avoid?......its pathetic,embarrassing and morally wrong !!
This just shows that NATO isn't a military alliance outside countries that have nukes. Ukraine could have purchased these in the past. But, if it had, it would had to have a puppet government. Because if it had its own, such weapons would've been unavailable for sale. Thus, NATO is using its monopoly on guns to appease the terrorists. Since countries can't acquire weapons for conventional combat, proliferation is the only way.
Maybe there’s a delay while Kyiv Post decide how much truth we the people are allowed to speak?
I did share my thoughts without any expletives and Kyiv Post has not posted them. Now it seems we are double censored.
Oslo, It's because if Moscow starts getting hit with Nato supplied arms, They would likely use Nuclear weapons on Ukraine, Starting a World War 3 situation.
Germany you have stepped up after looking weak at the beginning but you should trust Ukraine. They have not once fired a Nato weapon at Russian UN mandated areas so you should trust them too.
I really don't get it everyday they strike civilians and now grain. Everyone's afraid they will escalate but they do everyday. What is it does no one trust the Ukraine? They need long range missiles and more of everything. This is total war why does Nato let the Ukraine fight a war with one arm behind its back. It's outrageous.
@Oslo,
@Oslo, I agree both Biden and Pretorius should trust Zelensky. Ukrainians are dying in horrific numbers fighting for global security while these cowards who pose as leaders refuse blatantly obvious urgently needed long range missiles to help Ukraine end the war. Ukraine has begged these coward leaders for ATACMS and Taurus while a multitude of atrocities have been committed by Putrid who is escalating his terror in Ukraine each and every day.
Thank you Germany for your support. This is not a critique of Germany but of Nato the longer you delay........
@I support,