Germany stands firm: No Taurus missiles for Ukraine

According to Reuters, citing several reliable sources, President Joe Biden's administration has permitted Ukraine to use American weapons for attacks on targets deep within Russia.

"Yes, the federal government has been informed about this, and it does not affect the federal chancellor's decision not to supply Taurus," Wolfgang Buechner said, as cited by the DPA agency.

The Taurus missiles are notable for their 16-foot length and weight of about 3,086 pounds, with approximately 1,102 pounds allocated to the MEPHISTO (Multi-Effect Penetrator, Highly Sophisticated and Target Optimized) warhead. This warhead is distinguished not only by its considerable destructive power but also by its sophisticated design. It can detonate like a traditional fragmentation bomb or with a delay after penetrating a predetermined number of obstacles set by the user, making it effective for eliminating underground enemy positions, such as bunkers.

A spokesperson for the German Ministry of Defense clarified that the weapons Germany has transferred to Ukraine now belong to that country and can be used by international law. However, she noted that no German weapons were transferred to Ukraine, unlike the Taurus missiles, which are classified as long-range weapons.

The Taurus missiles' range is approximately 311 miles, enabling Ukraine to attack distant targets. By contrast, the range of the short-range ATACMS ballistic missiles provided to Ukraine by the United States is about 186 miles.

Reuters reports that in the coming days, Ukraine plans to use ATACMS missiles against targets in Russia for the first time. The U.S. adjusted its restrictions on these weapons in response to Russia's deployment of North Korean ground forces on the frontline. German authorities have been asserting for months that supplying Taurus missiles to Ukraine could further escalate the conflict with Russia.