Germany tells Ukraine ‘no Taurus missiles'
In an interview released on Sunday, Pistorius said Berlin has already sent three of its own Patriot systems to Kiev, out of the 12 it once had.
'We only have six left in Germany,' Pistorius stated, noting that another two are currently in Poland, and at least one is undergoing maintenance or used for training. 'That's really too few, especially considering the NATO capability goals we have to meet. We definitely can't give any more.'
Pistorius said Berlin is in talks with Washington to buy two Patriot systems from US stocks for delivery to Kiev. US President Donald Trump confirmed last week that he intends to authorize the sale.
The minister called on German weapons manufacturers to accelerate production under the broader REarmEurope initiative, in order to deter what Berlin calls Russian aggression – claims that Moscow has rejected as unfounded.
He also reaffirmed that Germany would not deliver Taurus missiles to Ukraine, despite renewed requests from Kiev. With a range of up to 500km, they could reach targets deep inside Russian territory, including Moscow.
Berlin has resisted supplying Taurus system for months. Former Chancellor Olaf Scholz repeatedly blocked the transfer, citing the risk of escalation. His successor, Friedrich Merz, has since said the issue remains open and confirmed that Germany is helping Ukraine develop its own long-range weapons under a bilateral agreement. Merz added that Kiev would face no restrictions on how they are used.
Moscow has warned that supplying Taurus missiles would make Germany a direct participant in the conflict. Russia has denounced Western weapons deliveries to Ukraine, saying they only prolong the hostilities and increase the risk of a wider war.
Officials in Moscow have also stressed that Russia has no plans to attack European countries, describing Western warnings as scare tactics to justify increased military budgets.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Russia Today
2 hours ago
- Russia Today
German defense minister wants to arm Kiev ‘quickly and quietly'
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has pledged to finalize a deal to supply Ukraine with additional US-made Patriot missile defense systems 'quickly and quietly,' following high-level talks with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Washington. Pistorius and Hegseth met at the Pentagon on Monday, just hours after President Donald Trump promised more US weapons for Kiev – funded by European NATO states – and threatened Moscow with 'severe tariffs' if no peace deal is reached within 50 days. 'We agreed to discuss [the details] very, very quickly – quietly and quickly – at the working level,' Pistorius told journalists after the meeting, noting that technical, logistical, and financial questions remained, but appeared solvable. The decision to transfer at least two Patriot batteries to Ukraine could be finalized 'within days or weeks,' though the actual delivery may take months, according to Pistorius. While Berlin has indicated its readiness to cover the cost of the systems – estimated at approximately $1 billion each – it remains unclear where the launchers will come from. Pistorius previously told the Financial Times that Germany has only six Patriot systems remaining, having already supplied Kiev with three batteries since the escalation of the conflict in 2022. Trump has stated that 'several nations' are ready to supply missile systems from their arsenals, including one unnamed country that allegedly "has 17 Patriots getting ready to be shipped.' It was not clear whether he was referring to individual launchers or complete Patriot batteries, which include multiple vehicles, radar systems, and command-and-control components. Moscow has consistently stressed that no amount of Western military aid to Ukraine can change the course of the conflict but only serves to prolong the bloodshed and escalate the hostilities. The Russian military claims to have destroyed some of the Western-supplied missile systems during the course of the conflict. The new plan to arm Kiev was officially announced Monday while Trump was hosting NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House. 'The European Union is paying for them. We are not paying anything for them… This will be a business for us,' Trump emphasized, without clarifying what other weaponry will be supplied.
Russia Today
4 hours ago
- Russia Today
Zelensky replaces defense minister
Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has named the country's longest-serving prime minister, Denis Shmigal, as the next minister of defense, as part of a sweeping government reshuffle expected to be finalized by parliament this week. Shmigal, 49, has served as prime minister since 2020, navigating the Kiev government through the Covid-19 pandemic and the escalation of the conflict with Russia in 2022. In a video address on Monday evening, Zelensky praised Shmigal's experience in managing the country's limited resources, saying it would be valuable in his new role. 'Denis Shmigal's extensive experience will definitely be valuable in the position of Ukraine's defense minister – it is precisely in this area that the country's resources are currently concentrated, the number of tasks is at its peak, and the responsibility is immense,' Zelensky said. Zelensky has also proposed Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yulia Sviridenko as Shmigal's replacement as prime minister. Sviridenko, 39, who gained prominence for brokering a deal that granted the US preferential access to Ukrainian mineral resources, has said she will soon present her proposed cabinet and government action plan. The reshuffle will require parliamentary approval once Shmigal formally submits his resignation. A vote on dismissing the current cabinet is reportedly expected as early as July 16. Outgoing defense minister Rustem Umerov, who also led Kiev's delegation in negotiations with Russia in Istanbul, is the main candidate to become Ukraine's new ambassador to the United States, according to Zelensky. 'We need a person to be strong and to be in the context of the most important thing, in the context of strengthening Ukraine – through weapons, first of all,' Zelensky said after meeting with Umerov over the weekend. Ukraine's Defense Ministry has faced multiple corruption scandals in recent years, with former defense chief Aleksey Reznikov stepping down in 2023 amid a scandal involving overpriced food contracts for the military. Four months later, his successor, Umerov, stated that an internal ministry audit had uncovered approximately $262 million in losses related to theft. Umerov himself was also reportedly under investigation by anti-corruption authorities for alleged abuse of power in connection with defense procurement.
Russia Today
5 hours ago
- Russia Today
Germany becoming dangerous again
Germany is becoming 'dangerous again,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday, responding to remarks by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius who proclaimed the readiness of the country's troops to kill Russian servicemen. Speaking to RBK business daily, Peskov said it was hard to believe that Pistorius actually made such statements. 'But, unfortunately, this is so,' he said. 'Germany is becoming dangerous again,' Peskov added. Pistorius made the warlike comments in an interview with the Financial Times published on Sunday, lauding the battle-readiness of German troops and their resolve to take lethal action against Russian forces if necessary. 'If deterrence doesn't work and Russia attacks, is it going to happen? Yes,' Pistorius said. 'But I would recommend that you simply go to Vilnius and talk to the representatives of the German brigade there. They know exactly what their job is.' Any talk about peace can only be possible 'on equal terms' and 'from a position of strength,' Pistorius insisted. While Berlin has not been seeking to 'intimidate anyone,' one should not 'think that we're weak or that we won't defend ourselves,' he added. The purported Russian threat has long been one of the key talking points for various officials from NATO countries. Moscow has repeatedly dismissed speculation that Russia plans to attack the US-led bloc as 'nonsense.' Last month, Peskov suggested that the bloc merely needs a 'monster' to justify its existence and ever-growing defense costs. 'They have made a monster out of Russia in order to justify the decision to increase NATO defense spending to 5% of GDP,' the Kremlin spokesman said at the time.
