Assistance with rocket development instead of Taurus missile delivery provided by Germany. - Germany Switches Aid from Taurus Missile Delivery to Funding Rocket Building
Germany Pledges Support for Joint Production of Long-Range Weapons with Ukraine
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced that Germany will assist Ukraine in producing long-range weapons, aiming to enable joint production. The agreement was reached during Merz's meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Berlin. Defense ministers from both countries had previously negotiated arms cooperation.
With long-range weapons, Ukraine can attack Russian air bases and supply lines located far behind the front lines, even on Russian territory. However, the delivery of German Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine becomes less likely due to the production aid for Ukrainian weapons.
Ukraine has been relying on long-range weapons from Western allies to defend itself against Russian aggression. Britain, France, and the United States have already delivered such weapons, but Germany has not. Zelensky had previously requested the Taurus cruise missile with a range of 500 kilometers from the then-German government, led by Olaf Scholz. Scholz was reluctant to deliver the missiles due to concerns about Germany's involvement in the war.
As opposition leader, Merz had expressed support for Ukraine's request for the Taurus cruise missile and even suggested that it could strike targets in Moscow. However, since forming a coalition government with the SPD, Merz has become more cautious and has avoided discussing individual weapons systems publicly. It is unlikely that an agreement with the coalition partner on Taurus will be reached.
Ukraine already has the capacity to produce long-range weapons, including the anti-ship rocket R-360 Neptune, which damaged a Russian cruiser in the Black Sea in 2022. The Neptune's successor, Neptune-MD, is expected to have a range of 1000 kilometers and enter serial production in 2024. In addition, Ukraine is developing other long-range rockets, such as the Hrim-2 and Korschun.
German support for Ukrainian production will focus on financing existing projects in Ukraine and engaging in industrial cooperation, which can take place both in Ukraine and Germany. Further details have not been disclosed. Merz stated that the refusal of the Russian side to engage in talks and maintain a ceasefire will have consequences.
According to the German Defense Ministry, a significant number of long-range weapons can still be produced this year, with the first batches ready for deployment in just a few weeks. As these systems are already integrated into the Ukrainian armed forces, no additional training will be required.
Ukraine continues to push for the delivery of the Taurus cruise missile and did not rule out discussion on this topic during its meeting with Merz. However, it is unlikely that Merz will give in due to the pressure the issue takes off the Taurus debate and the coalition partner's position.
Military expert Fabian Hoffmann has suggested that Taurus is particularly effective against heavily protected or buried targets, such as the Kerch Bridge, which connects the Russian-annexed Crimean Peninsula with the Russian mainland and is strategically important.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov has accused Merz of provoking the continuation of the war with his statements, while accusing Berlin of sabotaging diplomatic efforts to find a solution to the conflict. Merz continues to support diplomatic efforts but has expressed doubts about a quick solution at the negotiating table.
The Commission, in light of Germany's support for joint production of long-range weapons with Ukraine, may consider submitting a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, given the potential increase in arms manufacturing activities. Politics and general news outlets could also discuss the implications of Germany's decision in the context of war-and-conflicts, considering its potential impact on the ongoing Ukraine-Russia crisis.
