Germany stands firm: No Taurus missiles for Ukraine despite alliance pressures

Germany will not provide Ukraine with Taurus cruise missiles, Chancellor Olaf Scholz definitively dismissed the speculation at the last press conference. Some media perceive this as a backtracking from earlier declarations. We explain the capabilities of this weapon.

"Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we have allocated more than £24 billion in aid. We have provided, among other things, tanks and anti-air defence systems. But regarding the type of weapon you mentioned, my decision has not changed," said Olaf Scholz when asked by a journalist about the possibility of providing Ukraine with Taurus missiles.

The potential transfer of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine has been a topic of lively discussions for many months. In August 2023, Germany announced that they might be sent to Ukraine in agreement with the United States, which would send ATACMS missiles to the front.

Ukrainians are already firing the latter (in variants with a lesser range of 160km). They are preparing for the reception of further deliveries (also of variants with a greater range), prompting another avalanche of questions to German authorities. Once again, the explanations we have encountered before reemerge. Olaf Scholz believes that the use of Taurus cruise missiles in Ukraine would require direct engagement of German soldiers there, which Berlin cannot accept.

The range of this weapon also raises concerns among some German politicians. Taurus cruise missiles can be used to attack targets up to 500km away, which, in theory, would allow Ukrainians to strike deep within Russia.

Taurus missiles are air-to-ground cruise missiles (fired from adapted aircraft) produced by the Swedish-German consortium TAURUS Systems GmbH. Their prominent features include stealth technology and MEPHISTO warheads (Multi-Effect Penetrator, Highly Sophisticated and Target Optimised). They weigh nearly 500kg, with the whole missile weighing about 1,400kg. Taurus can detonate as a conventional fragmentation bomb or with a delay.

Some allies do not share Germany's concerns and are providing Ukraine with long-range missiles. This includes not only the United States but also European countries. The United Kingdom provides the front with Storm Shadow cruise missiles, and France with similar SCALP-EG missiles. The Ukrainians have adapted their front-line Su-24M bombers to carry them.