British Foreign Secretary David Cameron supports a missile ring exchange, in which Germany would transfer its Taurus missiles to the UK, while Britain would supply additional Storm Shadows to Ukraine. He said this in an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
Since May 2023, Ukraine has been actively urging Germany to supply Taurus missiles to enhance their capability to disrupt Russian logistics, yet Berlin hesitates, contrasting with the UK and France’s decision to provide Ukraine with Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles and the US decision to send its ATACMS. The German government’s reluctance stems from fears of escalating the war by giving Ukraine the means to strike targets within Russia.
Answering the question of whether his country would be ready to solve the issues with the supply of Taurus, Cameron noted that a “ring exchange” is possible, in which Germany will give Britain Taurus cruise missiles, and London, in turn, will give Ukraine additional Storm Shadow missiles.
But he said he “will not disclose any details and will tell our opponents what is planned.”
“We are determined to work closely with our German partners on this issue, as we do on all other issues, to help Ukraine,” Cameron said, according to Liga.
The British Foreign Secretary dismissed fears that the transfer of cruise missiles could lead to an escalation.
“It is absolutely possible to put restrictions on the use of these weapons to ensure that they do not contribute to escalation in any way,” he said, adding that Britain trusts Ukraine’s assurances.
On his visit to Berlin on 7 March, Cameron said arming Ukraine would not escalate the war but aid in peace efforts, amid international pressure on Germany to supply Taurus missiles to Ukraine.
Earlier, citing its sources, the German newspaper Handelsblatt reported that Britain proposes acquiring German Tauruses as replacements for its Storm Shadows, aiming to supply Ukraine with more Storm Shadows, and German Chancellor Scholz’s office was reviewing this strategic exchange, with potential support from Berlin.
Read more:
- UK Foreign Secretary: “Giving Ukraine weapons will help bring peace, not escalate war”
- EU Parliament urges EU to give Ukraine whatever it needs, including Taurus
- UK MP: Germany leak of UK military tactics in Ukraine security breach worrying on many levels
- Intercept of German generals planning Taurus strike on Crimean bridge: full translation
- Media: UK wants German Tauruses to send more of its Storm Shadows to Ukraine
