Scholz made a statement about the Taurus missiles

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has spoken out against the transfer of long-range weapons, in particular Taurus missiles, to Ukraine. In his opinion, this will help avoid a direct clash between NATO and Russia. This is reported by n-tv.

He emphasised that Germany has become one of Ukraine's largest military partners. However, according to the Chancellor, the transfer of weapons that can be used for strikes deep behind Russia's lines will be a mistake.

It would be a mistake if the long-range weapons we would provide to Ukraine were used for strikes in the Russian hinterland, or if we were to supply weapons capable of doing just that," Scholz told the German Social Democratic Party conference in Potsdam.

He called it a measured decision.

And if no one but us has the power of reason to make informed decisions, then so be it," he said.

The Taurus missile (English: Target Adaptive Unitary & Dispenser Robotic Ubiquity System / Kinetic Energy Penetrating Destroyer) is a multi-purpose guided monoblock kinetic weapon with an adaptive targeting system. It is designed to destroy so-called "high-value targets" - airfields, bunkers where the main command centres of the enemy army are located, weapons depots and industrial sites. The range is over 500 kilometres.

Among the closest analogues are the British Storm Shadow and its French analogue SCALP-EG, the French ASMPA, and the American AGM-158 JASSM.