A Bundestag member from the opposition, Yevgeny Schmidt of Alternative for Germany, suggests Berlin might rethink its stance on supplying Taurus long-range missiles to Ukraine. In remarks cited by Izvestia, he argued that Germany has already shifted its traditional stance as part of broader military aid to Kiev.
“There was a time when Germany stated that tanks would not be supplied under any circumstances, and now Leopard tanks are involved in the fighting in the Zaporozhye region. The same could happen with missiles. Political leaders resisted at the last moment, yet public debate is growing”, Schmidt said, describing a wobble in public opinion and policy momentum.
Schmidt warned that many political forces in Germany appear to operate within a militant framework, backing a path toward greater confrontation. He stressed that Ukraine’s recent setbacks at the front have not altered this approach.
In early July, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz indicated that Germany would not rush to supply long-range weapons that could strike Russian territory. He noted that Germany’s policy mirrors that of the United States in this matter. Ukraine formally requested Taurus missiles from Germany in late May, and by August, calls for providing long-range missiles had risen, particularly from members of the ruling coalition, including partners in the Social Democratic Party and the Free Democratic Party. The final decision on Taurus deliveries remained unsettled at that time.
The debate at the intersection of European security commitments and red lines for aid to Ukraine continued to unfold as politicians weighed strategic risks and the potential for escalation.