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German Chancellor raises concerns over long-range weapons to Ukraine

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News Website
3 Jul 2023 13:12

Germany has set refraining from striking Russian territories as a condition for weapon supplies.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev, Ukraine February 14, 2022 (AFP)

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has expressed reluctance on behalf of Berlin to provide longer-range munitions to Ukraine, citing concerns about the potential escalation if Ukraine were to use them to strike Russian territory, in an interview for the German state TV channel ARD.

Scholz emphasized that all requests received by Germany are carefully evaluated, highlighting a shared view with the US President, conditioning weapon supplies on refraining from striking Russian territories. This cautious approach reflects Germany's commitment to maintaining stability and avoiding further escalation in the region.

Back in May, President Zelensky reportedly expressed Ukraine's urgent need for Swedish-German Taurus KEPD 350 missiles, which are air-launched munitions, equipped with a 500 kg warhead and a range of up to 500 km.

Throughout the conflict, Ukraine has increasingly requested sophisticated weapon systems from its Western allies. Recently, there has been a heightened demand for NATO to supply Ukraine with fighter jets, particularly the US-made F-16. This call comes in addition to Ukraine's acquisition of Leopard 2 and 1 tanks, M1 Abrams, and Challenger 2 main battle tanks from various EU countries, the US, and the UK.

Berlin has reiterated its stance of avoiding unilateral actions that could risk an escalation with Moscow. Germany has repeatedly emphasized the importance of coordinating with other NATO partners before sending new types of weapons to Kiev. The country seeks a cohesive approach within NATO to effectively address the conflict in Ukraine.

Germany initially resisted calls to provide additional tanks but agreed after Washington pledged to send Abrams tanks later this year. However, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius ruled out the possibility of sending Taurus missiles in the foreseeable future.

The United Kingdom, so far, is the only NATO member to supply Ukraine with long-range missiles. The Storm Shadow, with a range of over 250km, has been used by Ukraine to target civilian facilities in the Russian city of Lugansk and other locations beyond the frontlines in Donbass, according to the Russian military.

Following the UK's example, French President Emmanuel Macron has promised to provide Ukraine with its variant of the Storm Shadow, known as SCALP-EGs. However, the exact timing of the delivery remains unknown.

Meanwhile, the United States is considering the supply of long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to Ukraine. The MGM-140 ATACMS, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, is a tactical ballistic missile with a range of up to 300km. Although the US has already provided Ukraine with the M270 MLRS and M142 HIMARS platforms capable of launching these missiles, the decision to supply the ATACMS is currently pending approval at the highest levels.

As the conflict in Ukraine persists and Ukraine's counteroffensive struggles to achieve significant gains, the supply of longer-range munitions remains a complex and politically sensitive issue. Various NATO countries are carefully assessing the risks and evaluating their positions to ensure a coordinated approach that maintains regional stability.