The German Defense Ministry said Ukraine has asked Berlin to supply Taurus air-to-surface missiles with a range of about 500 km.
"We have received a request from Ukraine in recent days," a German Defense Ministry spokesman said today, confirming the information published earlier by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung daily, but without giving details.
If it does, Germany would be the second country to publicly supply long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine, after Britain announced on May 11 that it was transferring Storm Shadow missiles, with a range of more than 250 km, to Kiev. Russia has said it will take all necessary measures to neutralize the threat from Storm Shadow, while warning that Britain will be responsible for any consequences of this escalation.
The news comes as Ukraine prepares for a large-scale counter-offensive to retake Russian-controlled areas. Ukrainian officials have said they will launch the operation when the time is right, claiming the counter-offensive will cause “all of Russia to panic.”
Taurus air-to-ground missile. Photo: Saab
Taurus is an air-to-surface missile produced by a joint venture between Germany's MBDA Deutschland and Sweden's Saab Dynamics, with a range of about 500 km and a 400 kg warhead. It is considered an effective weapon against protected targets such as command bunkers or warehouses deep behind the front lines.
The US is still refusing to provide the 300 km range Army Combat Rocket System (ATACMS) to Ukraine, due to concerns that Kiev could use this weapon to attack targets on Russian territory.
Germany is the second largest military aid donor to Ukraine, after the United States, with a value of more than $2.4 billion in 2022. The country has transferred 18 Leopard 2 main battle tanks, 40 Marder armored vehicles, 5 MARS II rocket launchers, 14 PzH 2000 self-propelled guns and many other weapons and equipment to Kiev.
Germany announced in mid-May that it was preparing a record military aid package for Ukraine worth nearly $3 billion. The package is expected to include air defense systems, Leopard 1 tanks, armored vehicles and surveillance drones. Berlin remains cautious about supplying Kiev with fighter jets and air-to-ground missiles.
Nhu Tam (According to Reuters, AFP )
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