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Has the German government now decided to supply Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine after all?
After a press conference with Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Berlin, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that Germany was working intensively with the Ukrainian government on “long-range fire” projects.
“The Ukrainian army is being equipped with such weapons systems,” Merz saidadding that no further details on arms deliveries to Kyiv would be made public.
This is a deliberate strategy to ensure “a certain lack of clarity vis-à-vis the Russian side as to what extent we are also providing military support here,” Merz explained.
“I can only say this much,” Merz continued, “We are doing everything we can to equip the Ukrainian army with weapons systems that have the appropriate range. In the coming weeks and months, if necessary, this will increase, including the production of such weapons systems in Ukraine itself.”
Change in position on Taurus missiles?
But does this mean that Ukraine may soon be equipped with the Taurus cruise missile?
With a range of up to 500 kilometres, the missile is considered long-range but so far the current German government, much like its predecessor, has refused to supply them to Ukraine.
The decision was made by former Chancellor Olaf Scholz during his time in office, who justified his refusal to send them to Ukraine as the risk of Germany becoming a belligerent was too great.
“We must not be linked to the targets that this system reaches at any point and in any place,” said Scholz, alluding to the range of the cruise missile.
The distance from Ukraine’s northern border to Moscow is around 500 kilometres and the Taurus could in theory be used to strike the Russian capital, one of the main reasons why delivery to Kyiv was rejected.
During his election campaign, however, Merz said he was open to supplying Ukraine with the missiles. During his first official visit to Kyiv, however, he announced that the government would no longer publish any information about the weapons it was using to support Ukraine.
So far, there is also no information that the weapon is in Ukraine or is being used by the Ukrainian army.
Defence Minister Boris Pistorius was asked last week after the meeting of the Group of Five defence ministers whether Germany was prepared to supply the Taurus to Ukraine. Pistorius simply replied that he could not comment on this.
Will the Flamingo replace the Taurus?
However, like Merz, he reiterated that the Ukrainian defence industry is receiving financial support. A press release on support for the production of long-range weapons in Ukraine from 28 May states that “Germany will finance the production of long-range weapons systems in Ukraine in future.”
“A considerable number of long-range weapons systems are to be produced in 2025. The weapon systems will quickly be available to the Ukrainian armed forces – the first ones can be deployed in just a few weeks,” a press release from the German Defence Ministry, previously reported by Euronews, said.
It is unclear which weapon systems are involved.
In August, the Ukrainian defence company Fire Point presented its Flamingo cruise missile, manufactured in Ukraine.
According to the company, the name of the missile is intended to symbolise its long range of up to 3,000 kilometres, the “light-footed” precise navigation and the stability of the flight.
It is also unclear whether Germany is involved in the financing of this missile programme.