Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock supports the transfer of the Taurus cruise missile to Ukraine, confirms the discussions about the “ring exchange” of Tauruses with the UK to supply more Storm Shadows to Ukraine, and says such an exchange could be “an option.”
Baerbock noted that the ring exchange was a German invention, as Germany had earlier supplied its tanks to the countries, which were donating their tanks to Ukraine. At that time, Germany was not yet willing to send Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine.
“That would be an option,” she noted regarding the Taurus/Storm Shadow exchange with the UK.
Also, the Chancellor’s rejection of the idea, Baerbock made it clear that she supports the direct Taurus supplies to Ukraine.
Ukrainian leaders have been requesting the Taurus for months, as it would significantly enhance Kyiv’s long-range strike capabilities. The missile’s powerful warhead makes it especially effective against large infrastructure targets, such as Russia’s strategic Kerch Strait Bridge that connects occupied Crimea to southwestern Russia.
Ring exchange
The concept of the circular missile exchange between Germany and the UK was initially reported in January. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, affiliated with Chancellor Scholz’s Social Democratic Party, stated at that time that he was unaware of any such proposal, according to Newsweek.
Scholz rejects the delivery of Taurus missiles with a range of 500 kilometers to Ukraine because he fears that Germany could ultimately be drawn into the war through their use. The ring swap could allay the concerns of Scholz, since Germany’s Tauruses would end up in Britain, far from Ukraine’s frontlines.
The Storm Shadow/SCALP cruise missiles with a range of over 250 kilometers, a joint British-French project, were first supplied to Kyiv in May 2023. These missiles have been effectively employed in major strikes against high-value Russian targets.
The Taurus missiles have a range of approximately 500 kilometers and share similarities in design and operation with the Storm Shadow/SCALP weapons. However, Chancellor Scholz has been reluctant to follow the lead of the UK and France.
Read more:
- Cameron says UK ready to send more Storm Shadows to Ukraine if Germany sends Tauruses to UK
- UK Foreign Secretary: “Giving Ukraine weapons will help bring peace, not escalate war”
- Taurus leak reveals Germany’s dilemma as Europe awakens to new security reality
- EU Parliament urges EU to give Ukraine whatever it needs, including Taurus
