Bundestag renewed calls to transfer Taurus missiles to Ukraine
Against the backdrop of Russian shelling, calls are once again being made in the Bundestag to transfer Taurus missiles to Ukraine (photo: Deutschland.de)
Against the backdrop of the intensified Russian airstrikes on Ukraine, the German Bundestag once again urged the German government to approve the supply of German Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, reports Deutsche Welle.
"Ukraine needs more ammunition, more replacement parts, and we need to immediately mobilise Taurus missiles to finally complicate the possibility of resupply for Russia," said the Chairwoman of the German Bundestag Defense Committee, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann.
According to her, Germany's commitment to supporting Ukraine as much as necessary will ring hollow if Germany and its allies do not significantly strengthen support for Kyiv. This includes the European coalition for the supply of F-16 fighters, which should gain momentum much more quickly, added Strack-Zimmermann.
Last week, following the previous massive attack, former Chairman of the Munich Security Conference Wolfgang Ischinger also called for a similar action, proposing to present Russia with a Taurus ultimatum.
Member of the Defense Committee of the Bundestag from the Alliance 90/The Greens party, Sarah Nanni, emphasized that German support for Ukraine faced planning difficulties due to tense budget debates. Currently, Ukraine urgently needs artillery ammunition, Taurus missiles, and spare parts for the heavy equipment supplied by Germany, stated Nanni.
The CDU/CSU bloc also intends to reassert its demands for supplying long-range missiles to Ukraine. The CDU/CSU's list of demands, including an increase in military aid to Kyiv, is expected to be adopted at their party congress in early January.
Massive Russian assault on Ukraine
On Tuesday, January 2, Russian occupiers once again launched a massive attack on Ukraine using kamikaze drones and missiles of various types.
Near the capital, air defense forces successfully intercepted around 60 missiles. Notably, 10 hypersonic aeroballistic missiles Kinzhal were hit, launched from MiG-31K aircraft. In total, Ukrainian defenders destroyed 72 missiles.
Ukraine has been appealing to Germany for several months for the transfer of long-range Taurus cruise missiles capable of reaching distances up to 500 km.
Germany has not yet made a decision regarding the supply of long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine. One of the reasons cited for the hesitation is the perceived fear in Berlin of direct confrontation with Russia.
