Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski urged Western capitals to supply Ukraine with long-range missiles capable of striking Russian territory. The call came after Russian forces targeted Ukrainian military sites in response to an attack on Belgorod on December 30.
On his social media page Sikorski argued that Western nations must answer the latest assault on Ukraine. He contended that providing longer-range missiles to Kyiv would enable Ukrainian forces to hit launch sites and command centers inside Russia.
In response, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova dismissed the suggestion as a move lacking new ideas and said it would target Poland itself. She questioned whether the missiles should be able to reach Polish borders and noted that Ukrainian territory had already served as the route for air operations into Russia.
Germany pressed to supply Taurus missiles
Public discussion about long-range missiles for Ukraine continued in Germany. Members of parliament including Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, chair of the Bundestag defense committee, Anton Hofreiter, head of the European affairs committee, and Norbert Röttgen, the foreign policy spokesman for the Christian Democratic Union, argued for sending Taurus cruise missiles to Kyiv. The Taurus system, a German-Swedish air-to-surface missile, is designed for precise strikes against fortified or subterranean targets and is considered to be a longer-range counterpart to the British Storm Shadow, with a range extending up to about 500 kilometers.
Strack-Zimmermann told the news portal t-online that Kyiv would benefit from additional ammunition, spare parts, and the immediate delivery of Taurus missiles to complicate Russian logistics. Bundestag members pointed to the responsibility of the defense minister to secure a decision from the chancellor on this matter. Earlier reports cited Bild claiming that key weapon-delivery decisions rest with the chancellor himself.
Kyiv seeks greater missile support
In Kyiv, officials outlined potential targets should Western long-range missiles be provided. In a discussion with The Economist, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that such capabilities could be used to target critical links like the Crimean Bridge, with the aim of isolating the peninsula from Russia.
The Ukrainian president argued that a successful operation in Crimea would serve as a powerful signal to Moscow and could shape perceptions within Russia. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, meanwhile, asked Western partners to expand support for air defense systems, artillery ammunition, and broader armed equipment. He posted a list of five steps on his social channel, urging not only extra munitions but also a wider array of unmanned aerial vehicles and longer-range missiles, alongside measures to mobilize frozen Russian assets in support of Kyiv.
According to the head of Ukraine’s foreign ministry, these actions would demonstrate to Moscow that the international community expects accountability for its conduct amid the conflict. Political observers note the potential strategic impact of such assistance on the broader balance of power in the region.
Analysts also remarked on the cautious stance observed in Washington. In an article for The Wall Street Journal, Phillips O’Brien described the United States as hesitant to provide long-range missiles to Ukraine. He recalled that the initial ATACMS decision was delayed until late 2023 and that Kyiv ultimately received a limited supply. O’Brien suggested that this measured approach reflected a broader preference among Western capitals to avoid a decisive escalation that would necessitate a large sustained offensive. He argued that White House caution may be steering considerations toward a negotiated settlement in which Kyiv might concede some territory, thereby reducing the likelihood of a prolonged war of attrition.