German lawmakers reject sending long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine

Europe, News March 15, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

The German parliament has rejected a proposal by the opposition to send long-range Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz defended the rejection by stating it would be “irresponsible” to send such powerful weapons to Ukraine.

Germany’s lower house of the parliament, the Bundestag, conducted polling on the proposal presented by the opposition party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). The opposition proposal called for the long-range weapon system to be deployed “immediately” in Ukraine as Russia makes incremental gains on the front line.

Overall 690 lawmakers took part in the vote and 495 voted against the delivery with 190 in favor and five abstentions. This is the third time in two years that the German parliament has rejected the proposal to send long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine.

A day before the polling on March 13, 2024, Chancellor Olaf Scholz insisted that it would be “irresponsible” to send Germany’s Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. He cited that the only way to deliver the missiles would be with German staff in support, a decision he said was “out of the question.”

“That is a line that I, as chancellor, do not want to cross,” he said as he emphasized that deployment of German-made long-range cruise missiles would escalate the situation between Russia and Ukraine while pulling Germany directly into the conflict. However, the experts believe that the German soldiers do not need to be on the ground to operate the missile system.

*^{German Chancellor Olaf Scholz delivering a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. (Image Credit: German Federal Government/Kugler)}*

“It remains central that we carefully consider every single decision,” Scholz told the Bundestag while batting away criticism that his government does not trust Ukraine’s armed forces. “We trust Ukraine, which is why Germany is by far the largest supplier of weapons among European countries,” he added.

Ukraine has already received Storm Shadow and SCALP cruise missiles from the United Kingdom and France respectively, while the United States is said to be considering sending additional Army Tactical Missile Systems to Ukraine. However, despite being the second-largest provider of military assistance to Ukraine, Germany has delayed Ukraine’s request for Taurus missiles, which have a range of up to 500 kilometers and could potentially target areas deep within Russian territory.

Taurus cruise missile

The Taurus KEPD-350 missile stands out as one of the most advanced weapon systems in the German arsenal. Fired from fighter jets, this missile travels at nearly the speed of sound. Flying at an altitude as low as 35 meters, it remains highly elusive to radar detection, constantly recalibrating its position.

Designed for striking “high-value targets” like bunkers or command posts, the Taurus employs a unique tactic: before detonating its warhead, it employs a charge to breach the outer walls of the target. This enables it to penetrate multiple levels of a concrete bunker before unleashing its full force.

While the Ukrainian army possesses similar weapon systems, they boast shorter ranges. However, with Taurus missiles, Ukraine could target Russian positions deep within enemy territory, disrupting supply lines, neutralizing command centers, and even striking targets within Russian-occupied Crimea.