German cruise missiles won’t be ‘game changer’ for Ukraine – defense chief

Boris Pistorius has defended Berlin’s decision to withhold the delivery of the Taurus long-range munitions to Kiev

The potential delivery of the Taurus air-launched cruise missiles to Ukraine will not significantly change the situation on the battlefield, German Boris Pistorius has said.

The defense chief made his comments in an interview with broadcaster ARD on Sunday, as some EU officials worry that the return of President-elect Donald Trump to the White House in January could eventually lead to the suspension of military aid to Kiev.

“There are arguments about the Taurus that are relevant to national security and NATO strategies, and we should not discuss them [publicly],” Pistorius said when asked if Germany should reconsider its decision not to supply Ukraine with the missiles with a range of 500 km (310 miles).

“At the same time, the Taurus would not be a game changer. Our mission is different. We now have to ensure that Ukraine continues to receive sustainable supplies,” the minister stressed.

Read more Zelensky says he opposed Putin-Scholz call

In September, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned that providing Ukraine with cruise missiles would be tantamount to direct participation in the conflict with Russia.

“It would only be tenable to deliver [these weapons] if we determine and define the targets ourselves, and that is again not possible if you don’t want to be part of this conflict,” he said.

On Friday, Scholz and Russian President Vladimir Putin held their first phone call in nearly two years, with Scholz saying reaffirmed Berlin’s resolve to support Kiev.

Read more Russia confirms large-scale strikes on Ukraine – MOD

The German leader currently faces a no-confidence vote and a snap election early next year after the ruling coalition collapsed over budgetary disagreements. Berlin has shifted billions of euros from domestic spending to Ukraine in recent years.

Pistorius’ interview coincided with multiple news organizations saying that US outgoing President Joe Biden had reversed previous policy of not allowing Ukraine to use American-made ATACMS missiles for strikes on Russia’s internationally recognized territory. Putin has stated earlier that the expansion of strikes using Western long-range weapons would “change the nature of the conflict” and signal NATO’s direct participation in the attacks against Russia.