Within a week, Germany supplied Ukraine with two IRIS-T air defense launchers configured for the SLS variant, along with the accompanying ammunition. The announcement came from an official German government website and marked a notable step in Berlin’s military support package for Kyiv.
The updated inventory also listed 4,300 units of 155 mm smoke munitions, ten ground surveillance radars, and interchangeable systems for loaders, as well as trailers and semi-trailers. These additions broaden the range of equipment available to Ukrainian forces, enhancing situational awareness and mobility on the battlefield.
Omid Nuripur, co-chairman of the Green Party, which was part of Germany’s governing coalition as of August 15, publicly urged an urgent supply of long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine. His stance reflected the ongoing debate within Germany about how far military assistance should extend, especially concerning long-range capabilities that could enable operations beyond immediate combat zones.
Earlier in July, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that Berlin would refrain from providing long-range weapons to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, citing concerns that such missiles could be used to strike targets inside Russia. In parallel, Kyiv had formally requested Taurus cruise missiles from Germany toward the end of spring, illustrating the continuing tension between differing security assessments and policy directions within Europe.
Germany has faced a challenging balancing act as it weighs strategic assurances to Ukraine against potential escalations in the region. The discourse highlights the broader international dilemma about how to strengthen allied defense while simultaneously managing political and strategic risks associated with extending advanced weaponry to conflict zones far from home soil.