Defense News ,Germany :- German lawmakers rejected a proposal from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU) parties concerning the transfer of long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, as stated by the Bundestag on January 17.
The Taurus missiles have been a topic of extensive debate since Ukraine submitted a request for these weapons, which boast a range of up to 500 kilometers, in May 2023. In October, Bild reported that Olaf Scholz opposes sending Taurus missiles to Kyiv due to concerns that it could entangle Germany in the conflict. Ukraine has previously received other long-range missiles, including the Storm Shadow from the U.K. and the French-made SCALP.
The motion was put to a roll-call vote and was rejected, with 485 lawmakers opposing, 178 in favor, and three abstentions. Friedrich Merz, the CDU parliamentary leader, emphasized that Ukrainian forces currently face challenges in holding off Russian troops, and the inclusion of Taurus cruise missiles could have a significant impact.
Despite Chancellor Scholz's reservations about transferring long-range missiles, possibly rooted in concerns about escalating tensions with Russia, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba assured that Taurus missiles would be "used solely inside our borders."
On January 17, Berlin announced a new military aid package for Ukraine, which includes providing ammunition for Leopard 1 tanks.
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