Germany's ruling coalition has prepared a secret proposal to supply Ukraine with more ammunition, which may include long-range Taurus missiles.
Can Germany transfer Taurus to Ukraine?
Bild reports that the project includes a proposal to transfer ammunition and a more significant number of vehicles and weapons systems.
Voting in the Bundestag is scheduled for this week.
However, Taurus is not directly mentioned in the project. Still, it is about "the supply of additional necessary long-range weapons systems and ammunition so that Ukraine (…) can carry out targeted strikes by international law on strategically significant targets far behind the rear of the Russian aggressor."
It is recognised that Ukraine should be allowed to attack military depots or supply routes far behind the front line.
Taurus missiles, which can reach targets at a distance of more than 500 km, fit this description.
France and Great Britain have already delivered their cruise missiles (Scalp and Storm Shadow) to Ukraine, but they are not considered as effective and accurate as the Taurus.
The adoption of this package would be symbolic because, ten years ago, Russia invaded Crimea, and February 24 will be the second anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has so far resisted Taurus deliveries. However, he initially hesitated about handing over the Leopard 2 main battle tanks but later agreed.
Taurus transfer: what is known
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was asked at the Munich Security Conference on December 17 why Germany does not supply Taurus missiles to Ukremphasisedmphasized that the question is finding the best moment for this.
Scholz was not in a hurry to send missiles to Kyiv yet, because Germany "is afraid that German weapons with a range of up to 500 km can attack targets on Russian territory."
Earlier, Ukraine's MFA chief, Dmytro Kuleba, noted that Ukraine needs Taurus missiles for attacks on the military infrastructure of the Russian Federation behind the front line on the territory of Ukraine.
