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Bundeswehr “tornado” with Taurus cruise missile: Ukraine could probably hit Moscow with this
Photo: Andrea Bienert/dpa
The Ukrainian government expects that the federal government will still decide to supply Taurus cruise missiles. "The fact that you don't hear a clear no is an answer in itself," said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
"We always trust that such problems will be solved at some point, because that's what life has taught us in the last two years," said Kuleba. Ukraine has been asking Germany to supply Taurus cruise missiles for months. The weapons have a long range and can hit targets up to 500 kilometers away.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz is considered a critic of a delivery advocated by Green and FDP politicians. The SPD politician has decided to make Taurus available for the time being because it could be used to hit numerous targets in Russia - Moscow is less than 500 kilometers as the crow flies from the Ukrainian border.
Most recently, however, there was talk of exchanging rings with NATO partners Great Britain or France. By replenishing the cruise missile stocks of these two countries with Taurus, Germany could in turn supply cruise missiles to Ukraine. However, the British and French Storm Shadow and Scalp weapons are slightly less powerful and have a slightly shorter range.
Regarding possible Taurus deliveries, Kuleba said that every discussion about arms deliveries began with a no. In fact, the federal government hesitated for a long time before approving the export of Leopard battle tanks.
Kuleba: “There is only one way”
Scholz continued to evade the question about Taurus deliveries at the Munich Security Conference. In an interview after his speech, he simply assured that Germany would always do enough to support Ukraine.
Kuleba justified his hope for the Taurus delivery by saying that Germany's commitment is currently increasing significantly. This was also shown by President Volodymyr Selenskyj's visit to Scholz in Berlin. A long-term security agreement was signed there and a new weapons package was approved. "I think the driving force behind this commitment is the recognition that Europe must take more responsibility for what happens in Europe," said the Ukrainian.
Kuleba emphasized the importance of these weapons. »There is only one way to destroy Russian capabilities in Ukraine. You have to hit them deep in the occupied areas. "Taurus, together with the American Atacms missiles, is the most modern weapon capable of doing this. "If you want to strike behind the lines, disrupt their logistics and supplies, destroy their ammunition depots, you can only do that with long-range missiles."
Later today, Ukraine will again be a topic at the Munich Security Conference. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis are expected to take part in a discussion about European performance with a view to the war. At another event, EU Foreign Affairs Representative Josep Borrell, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina and FDP politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann also want to talk about the EU's geopolitical agenda.
apr/dpa