Despite the new agreement, Germany will not deliver Taurus missiles to Ukraine.

Despite the new joint production deal inked last month, the defense minister on Thursday challenged the notion that his nation will provide Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles. In Kyiv, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told reporters, “Since you asked me if we are considering this, my answer is no.”

 

Nevertheless, the minister reiterated Germany’s backing for Ukraine, noting that since the start of the conflict in 2022, his nation has given $8.1 billion to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia. According to him, the German parliament is debating a further defense package of $2.2 billion. You May Also Enjoy

Germany and Ukraine inked a military pact last month to increase long-range weapon manufacture. The agreement overturned a long-standing German policy that prohibited the country from supplying Ukraine with drones and long-range missiles. EU officials have maintained that arming Ukraine with long-range missiles would simply make the conflict more intense.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the time declined to say if the 300-mile-range Taurus missiles would be sent as part of the deal. The announcement coincides with Russia and Ukraine stepping up their long-range strikes. In response to Ukraine’s massive attack last week, Russia deployed hundreds of drones and more than a dozen missiles against Kyiv this week.