Germany tells Ukraine ‘no Taurus missiles’
Germany will not supply Ukraine with additional Patriot air defense systems nor long-range Taurus missiles, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has told the Financial Times. He explained that Berlin must prioritize its own security, as its remaining Patriot inventory is too limited.
In an interview released on Sunday, Pistorius said Berlin has already sent three of its own Patriot systems to Kiev, out of the 12 it once had.
“We only have six left in Germany,” Pistorius stated, noting that another two are currently in Poland, and at least one is undergoing maintenance or used for training. “That’s really too few, especially considering the NATO capability goals we have to meet. We definitely can’t give any more.”
Pistorius said Berlin is in talks with Washington to buy two Patriot systems from US stocks for delivery to Kiev. US President Donald Trump confirmed last week that he intends to authorize the sale.
The minister called on German weapons manufacturers to accelerate production under the broader REarmEurope initiative, in order to deter what Berlin calls Russian aggression – claims that Moscow has rejected as unfounded.
He also reaffirmed that Germany would not deliver Taurus missiles to Ukraine, despite renewed requests from Kiev. With a range of up to 500km, they could reach targets deep inside Russian territory, including Moscow.
Berlin has resisted supplying Taurus system for months. Former Chancellor Olaf Scholz repeatedly blocked the transfer, citing the risk of escalation. His successor, Friedrich Merz, has since said the issue remains open and confirmed that Germany is helping Ukraine develop its own long-range weapons under a bilateral agreement. Merz added that Kiev would face no restrictions on how they are used.
Moscow has warned that supplying Taurus missiles would make Germany a direct participant in the conflict. Russia has denounced Western weapons deliveries to Ukraine, saying they only prolong the hostilities and increase the risk of a wider war.
Officials in Moscow have also stressed that Russia has no plans to attack European countries, describing Western warnings as scare tactics to justify increased military budgets.
