On February 24, Berlin continued to maintain its position of refusing to supply Taurus long-range missiles to Ukraine. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius confirmed that the federal government has no plans to transfer this system to Kiev.
Mr. Pistorius said that the Taurus missile will not change the course of the conflict nor will it bring the conflict closer to an end, warning that the transfer of this type of weapon could increase the risk of escalation.
Speaking on local radio, the Minister emphasized that Germany needs to avoid making the situation more tense.
This statement took place just 1 day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted to the German media that the possibility of receiving Taurus missiles from Berlin is almost non-existent.
The latest developments related to the possibility of transferring Taurus missiles to Ukraine have surprised observers because this is an idea that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz once left open last year.
In February 2025 - while still in the election campaign, Mr. Merz said that if he wins the election, his government will consider the possibility of providing Taurus missiles to Ukraine, and call on European allies to coordinate in strengthening other defense systems.
However, he also appeared cautious, emphasizing that Berlin does not want to sink too deep into the conflict. "Germany must not become a belligerent party," Mr. Merz said at the time.
Until April 2025, Mr. Zelensky continued to express hope that Germany would approve the transfer of Taurus cruise missiles after Mr. Merz took office on May 6.
In an interview at that time, Mr. Zelensky said he would actively work with Mr. Merz on this issue, but declined to provide further details. When asked if he was optimistic, the Ukrainian President replied: "Yes, of course, even a little more than hope.
For its part, Russia emphasized that long-range attacks are not carried out by Kiev itself but by Western countries, with their experts participating in directing missiles to targets.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has also repeatedly affirmed that the transfer, including the most modern Western weapons, will not change the situation on the front lines.
