German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reiterated his position not to supply the much desired Taurus air-launched cruise missiles to Ukraine.
During the press conference held after the bilateral meeting with the Malaysian prime minister, the German chancellor was asked about the possibility of German Taurus missiles being transferred to the Ukrainian Air Force, which has been asking Berlin for them for months (and receiving a refusal in response).
Olaf Scholz’s answer was categorical. “Taurus will not happen, neither directly nor indirectly.”
❗️???????????????????? – German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that Berlin will not supply Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, either directly or indirectly (circular exchange with England):
“This is final,” Scholz said. pic.twitter.com/cpq7p1t18W
— ????????The Informant (@theinformant_x) March 11, 2024
The mention of the “indirect” route may be due to the recent offer by the United Kingdom. David Cameron, UK Foreign Minister, who visited Berlin a week ago, offered an alternative to supplying missiles to Ukraine.
In an interview with the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung he suggested that Germany could transfer its Taurus missiles to the UK, which in turn would allow London to release additional batches of Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine.
While Cameron’s proposal was officially considered “an option” by the German government, in reality it did not appear to be quite serious, but only a way of further pressuring Berlin to deliver the coveted missiles to Kiev.
Ukraine wants the Taurus to destroy the pillars supporting the Kerch Bridge, a vital supply route it uses connecting Russian territory with the Crimean peninsula.Germany would hardly cede to the UK its Taurus, and the confidential information and military secrets that accompany such a delivery of advanced weapons. Moreover, Berlin would have to place its full confidence in the British promise that these weapons would not end up in Ukrainian hands. Diplomatic relations between Berlin and London have not been the same since BREXIT, to think that this exchange of cruise missiles could actually happen.
