Portrait of Olaf Scholz
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Olaf Scholz on Taurus Missiles

Reluctant supplier (strong)

TL;DR

Olaf Scholz firmly opposes sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine due to the high risk of German escalation into the war.

Key Points

  • He publicly ruled out delivering the missiles due to the risk of Germany becoming directly involved in the war with Russia, as of February 2025.

  • He asserted that necessary target control for the Taurus missiles cannot be performed by Germany in the same way as by the UK and France for their respective systems.

  • The chancellor stated that Ukraine's current deficiency is ammunition at various distances, not decisively the Taurus missile system from Germany, in November 2024.

Summary

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz maintains a strong, consistent position against supplying Ukraine with Taurus long-range cruise missiles, primarily citing the danger of directly escalating Germany's involvement in the conflict with Russia. He has repeatedly argued that the nature of these weapons requires target control and accompanying actions that Germany cannot perform without putting German soldiers near the conflict, a line he stresses must not be crossed. This stance, which contrasts with allies like Britain and France who supply similar systems, has caused friction within his own coalition and with the conservative opposition.

He has offered specific reasons for his hesitancy, suggesting that the capabilities for target control linked to the Taurus system cannot be replicated by Germany, unlike with the missiles supplied by other nations. Furthermore, the chancellor has suggested that Ukraine's most pressing need is ammunition for existing systems rather than this specific long-range weapon. Despite Germany being the second-largest military aid donor to Ukraine, his commitment to helping Kyiv while maintaining a “cool head” and preventing direct German participation in the war defines his policy on the Taurus delivery.

Key Quotes

You can't play Russian roulette with Germany's security

Frequently Asked Questions

Olaf Scholz currently rules out sending Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine. His primary reason is the serious concern that supplying the weapon could inadvertently lead to Germany's direct participation in the war against Russia.

The chancellor has remained publicly reluctant to deliver the Taurus missiles for months, consistently citing escalation risks. While his coalition partners have shown some flexibility, his core position has been firmly maintained.

Scholz noted that Britain and France are already supplying long-range missiles, but implied that the specific target control required for the Taurus system is what prevents Germany from following suit. He suggested that supplying them would be a mistake for many reasons, including the danger of escalation.