“A decision by Germany”
US government hopes for Taurus turnaround in Berlin
April 25, 2024, 9:50 p.m
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The USA is supplying Ukraine with long-range ATACMS cruise missiles for the first time. The Biden government hopes to use this signal to give a boost to the deadlocked Taurus debate in Germany. In the end, it is “a decision for Germany,” emphasizes a high-ranking US official.
According to a US government official, there is hope in Washington that the delivery of longer-range ATACMS cruise missiles to Ukraine could give impetus to the German debate about the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles. “Taurus – that’s a decision made by Germany,” said a senior government official in Washington. Given the U.S. decision for ATACMS supplies and similar decisions in London and Paris, “we would obviously hope that that could be a factor,” he said.
Washington announced on Wednesday that it would deliver short-range ATACMS missiles with a range of up to 300 kilometers to Ukraine. Previously, the US had only delivered ATACMS with a range of 165 kilometers.
Wadephul criticizes Scholz
In Germany, the US decision could once again fuel the debate about the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles. Chancellor Olaf Scholz confirmed on Wednesday that he would “not change” his decision against supplying the longer-range cruise missiles. The deputy chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, Johann Wadephul, said on ntv: “If you have trust in Ukraine and the USA has trust, and Mr. Scholz says so himself, then you have to deliver Taurus now.” The delivery of ATACMS from the USA is “really the last sign that the Chancellor has to rethink.”
The Taurus has a range of more than 500 kilometers. This would allow the cruise missile to reach Russian territory from Ukraine and destroy weapons depots and command centers there. The possible shelling of Russian territory is a reason for Scholz not to agree to the delivery. As a further reason, Scholz cites what he sees as the need for German participation in the targeting of cruise missiles, which would mean that Bundeswehr members would be directly involved in operations. Proponents of Taurus deliveries reject these arguments.
Washington does not expect a Ukrainian counteroffensive
Ukrainian troops have fallen behind Russian forces in recent months. The Russian army has been able to record a number of terrain gains in recent weeks. The Ukrainian military is suffering from a severe shortage of weapons, ammunition and recruits. US national security adviser Jake Sullivan warned of “further tactical gains” by Russia in the coming weeks.
The new military aid will help Kiev regain the initiative on the battlefield, the senior US official argued. But this “will not be a quick process,” he said. “So I wouldn’t expect a large-scale offensive any time soon.”
The USA is Kiev’s main supporter in the war against Moscow. However, Republicans in the US Congress had blocked a new aid package for Ukraine worth $61 billion for months. It was only passed in the House of Representatives on Saturday, followed by the Senate on Tuesday and US President Joe Biden’s signature on Wednesday.