Recently, a discussion broke out in Germany regarding the possibility of providing long-range Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. The leader of the German opposition and chancellor candidate from the CDU/CSU, Friedrich Merz, expressed his readiness to transfer these powerful missiles to Ukraine, which can hit targets at a distance of more than 500 km. However, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz opposed this decision, noting that such supplies could escalate the conflict and bring closer a direct confrontation between NATO and Russia.
Friedrich Merz, leader of the CDU/CSU, emphasized the importance of providing Ukraine with advanced weapons systems to support its fight against Russia. In particular, he stated that Taurus missiles could significantly strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities, because these long-range missiles are capable of accurately hitting key enemy targets at long distances. Mertz believes that this will help reduce the scale of hostilities and allow Ukraine to fight more effectively. Chancellor Olaf Scholz, on the other hand, has a different opinion. He opposes the transfer of such missiles to Ukraine, believing that their use for strikes in the deep rear of Russia could be a mistake. According to Scholz, this could lead to an escalation of the conflict and unpredictable consequences for the security of Europe. The chancellor emphasized that Germany has already become one of the largest military partners of Ukraine, and stated that the decision regarding weapons capable of reaching Russian depths should be made carefully and taking into account all potential risks.
"It will be a mistake if the long-range weapons we provide to Ukraine are used for strikes deep in Russia," Scholz said at the conference of the Social Democratic Party of Germany in Potsdam. He also emphasized the importance of balanced decisions in the current situation and stated that Germany should act cautiously. Taurus missiles are multi-purpose guided monoblock missiles that use an adaptive homing system. They are capable of hitting strategically important objects at a distance of more than 500 km. These missiles are designed to destroy targets such as airfields, bunkers, weapons depots and the main command posts of the enemy army. Taurus analogues are the British Storm Shadow, the French SCALP-EG and the American AGM-158 JASSM.
Given the high efficiency and range of missiles, their provision to Ukraine could significantly change the course of the war, making it possible to attack not only the forward positions of the enemy, but also important strategic objects located deep in Russia.
The issue of providing Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles remains controversial among German politicians. On the one hand, the provision of such weapons systems can strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities, and on the other hand, it can cause a new wave of escalation and lead to unpredictable consequences for stability in Europe. Further discussions in Germany will probably determine the strategic line of support for Ukraine in the future.
