Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy strongly criticised German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for refusing to deliver German-made Taurus missiles to Kyiv, suggesting that his reluctance was based on his desire to keep the weapons for Berlin’s defence against Russian threats, on Wednesday, the 10th of April, reports Politico.
Zelenskyy said of the Taurus missiles in an interview that Chancellor Scholz believes that since Germany is non-nuclear state, the Taurus missiles are Germany’s strongest weapon.
“He communicated to me the messages that he cannot leave his country without such a powerful weapon”, said Zelenskyy.
The German government has taken a different stance on why it opposed sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine, citing concerns that such a move could
escalate the conflict and potentially draw Germany into a direct confrontation with Russia.
The Ukrainians want German Taurus missiles, which have a range of around 500 km, to attack targets deep behind the front lines.
Zelenskyy’s remarks, if Scholz is understood correctly, suggest that the Chancellor may have had some undisclosed reason for not sending the missiles, or that it was an explanation that he may have been most comfortable giving Zelenskyy.
Zelensky said that Scholz considered the Taurus missiles as a deterrent in the event of a nuclear attack, adding that he did not see the logic in this.
“No missiles,” he said, “will protect anyone from a nuclear attack if, God forbid, a nuclear war breaks out”.
But Scholz has offered the German public very different arguments, portraying himself as a leader who can help Ukraine without risking a wider conflict. Some politicians in his party have called him a “peace chancellor” for this approach.
“There is a line that I, as Chancellor, do not want to cross,” Scholz said in March. “I have a duty to prevent Germany from getting involved in this war.”
Scholz also believes that the missile deployment would necessitate sending German troops to Ukraine to help operate them, a view not shared by military leaders.
In the interview, Zelenskyy criticised both Germany’s reluctance to send missiles and the US hesitation to allow Ukrainian forces to use F-16 and ATACMS missiles.
He expressed confusion about the logic of partners in denying weapons necessary for Ukraine’s survival, stressing the urgency of the situation.
Also read: US to sell to Ukraine equipment necessary to upgrade HAWK air defence system
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