European Parliament insists on sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine

EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola has advocated for Germany to send long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine in light of Russia's recent escalatory measures, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported on November 23.

"Yes, that is also the position of the EU Parliament. There is broad support for this demand. We will see whether there will be a corresponding change of course after the (German) federal election," she said, Caliber.Az reports, citing Ukraine media.

Metsola noted that "time matters" for Ukraine and that Russia is increasing its pressure, with more air targets striking Ukrainian cities.

She stressed that Ukraine "cannot wait forever" and that the European Parliament has broad support for Germany's decision.

Calls for Germany to supply Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles were renewed once the U.S. authorized Ukraine to use its ATACMS long-range missiles against targets in Russia earlier in November.

A German government spokesperson told the AFP news agency on Nov. 18 that Scholz "made his position clear" on the matter following news from the U.S. and would "not change his stance anymore."

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has repeatedly denied the possibility of supplying Ukraine with the weaponry, fearing that Germany would be brought into the war with Russia.

However, Germany is set to hold elections in late February, and center-right CDU/CSU chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz has conveyed his openness to the delivery of Taurus missiles under certain conditions.

The Taurus debate has resumed after the US lifted restrictions on the use of long-range weapons by Ukraine to strike Russian territory, and Germany is approaching early elections. The leader of the largest opposition party, the Christian Democratic Union of Germany, Friedrich Merz, who has a good chance of becoming the next chancellor, is in favour of the Taurus transfer, while the Social Democratic Party of Germany partners are also in favour of the decision, but Chancellor Olaf Scholz insists that he will not do so.

By Khagan Isayev