German MoD's head grows 'tired' over debates on Taurus missile deliveries to Ukraine
Boris Pistorius (Photo: Getty Images)
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius admitted that he has become "tired" of debates on the supply of Taurus missiles to Ukraine, according to N-TV.
For several months now, debates have been ongoing regarding the possible supply of long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine.
"The Federal Minister of Defense Pistorius expressed his weariness with the discussions, as he clearly indicated in the Bundestag," the material states.
What else did the minister say?
Taurus is one of the most advanced missiles and can target objectives such as bunkers, even from great heights and distances. Ukraine has repeatedly requested long-range missiles, as they could provide the country with an advantage in countering Russian aggression.
"It's about whether we will supply everything possible or take on part of the freedom and responsibility for making this decision ourselves," Pistorius said.
Putin's ambitions won't end in Ukraine
During budget debates in the Bundestag, Pistorius welcomed the fact that, despite record spending of 72 billion euros, NATO's demand to spend at least two percent of GDP on defense was met for the first time in a decade. This amounts to 2.1%, including billion-dollar payments from the Bundeswehr's special fund, created with a volume of 100 billion euros after Russia's attack on Ukraine.
"This is moving in the right direction and corresponds to the seriousness of the situation," Pistorius said.
He once again warned that the imperialistic ambitions of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin wouldn't end in Ukraine, and Putin wanted to "continue spreading borders." Therefore, German support for Ukraine had to continue.
Taurus for Ukraine
Ukraine previously requested long-range Taurus missiles from Germany, capable of destroying targets up to 500 kilometers away, last year. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz opposed the idea, expressing concerns that Ukraine could use such weaponry to launch missile strikes on Russia.
Recently, the Christian Democratic Union decided to bring the issue of supplying Taurus to Ukraine to the Bundestag, but the project was not supported.
It was also previously reported that the German company Taurus Systems GmbH was ready to quickly replenish Germany's stocks of long-range missiles in the event of supplying them to Ukraine.
Recently, the media reported that the United Kingdom offered to purchase long-range Taurus missiles for itself from Germany, a request that the Ukrainian side has been making to Berlin for a long time without positive results.
