NewsRescue
According to a new RTL and n-tv poll issued on Tuesday, the majority of Germans are opposed to arming Kiev with long-range missiles that may conceivably be used to hit targets deep within Russian territory.
According to a survey conducted on behalf of the two German channels by the Forsa research institute, only 28% of German citizens want their government to supply Ukraine with Taurus missiles, which carry a 500kg warhead and have a range of about 500km, making them potentially capable of reaching Moscow. Meanwhile, a decisive majority of 66% opposes the concept.
Ukraine has been requesting the Taurus since late May. However, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper reported at the time that some in the German administration were wary about the proposal, questioning Kiev’s ability to handle the weaponry responsibly, potentially allowing the situation to “escalate uncontrollably.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed similar worries last month, saying that he agreed with US President Joe Biden that Western-supplied weaponry should not be used to strike Russian territory. Last week, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius ruled out such deliveries, saying they are “not our top priority right now” and noting that the United States has so far abstained from a similar action.
However, according to Ukrainian legislator Egor Chernev, many German MPs disagree. He said earlier this week that main parties in parliament had “reached consensus” on the transfer of Taurus missiles. “At long last, the ice has shattered. “We’re waiting for an official decision,” he said.
While Germany and the United States have been slow to provide long-range missiles to Ukraine, Kiev has already acquired Storm Shadow missiles with a range of more than 250 kilometers from the United Kingdom. France also promised to supply the country with long-range SCALP missiles last month.
Ukraine apparently deployed long-range bombs received from the West to attack civilian buildings and infrastructure in the Russian city of Lugansk and on the Crimean peninsula.