Sources close to the German Chancellery revealed a behind-the-scenes tango between the German government and renowned arms manufacturer MBDA.
Their secret discussions revolve around a pivotal change to the programming of Taurus cruise missiles before these lethal projectiles find their way to Ukrainian shores.
Kyiv’s relentless push to secure the Taurus cruise missile, a high-stakes weapon boasting an impressive range of over 500 kilometres (300 miles), has triggered alarm bells in Berlin.
These missiles, packed with firepower and launched from formidable fighter jets like the Tornado, F-15, and F-18, have ignited geopolitical tensions that can no longer be ignored.
In a rare twist, Germany’s reluctance to heed Kyiv’s call stands in stark contrast to the UK and France, who’ve already dispatched Storm Shadow and Scalp cruise missiles to fortify Ukraine’s arsenal.
Across the Atlantic, even the United States has chosen to sit this one out, withholding its own Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) from Ukraine’s eager grasp.
In a fast-moving saga that unfolded on Friday, a spokesperson for the German government said: “Germany is focusing on heavy artillery, armoured vehicles and air defence systems.
“There is no new information on the Taurus cruise missile.”
According to Der Spiegel, the German Defence Ministry is asking Taurus’ manufacturer to integrate programming safeguards to dictate potential targets for these long-range cruise missiles.
Scholz, the mastermind behind the manoeuvre, said he envisions a future where Ukrainian offensives on Russian soil are nothing more than a fleeting mirage, as the publication revealed.
