(MENAFN- AzerNews) Ukraine has asked Berlin to provide it with Taurus
air-to-surface missiles that have a range of in excess of 500
kilometres, Germany's defence ministry told AFP on Saturday,
Azernews reports, citing KyivPost.
"We have a received a request from the Ukrainian side in recent
days," a ministry spokesman said, without providing further
details.
The request comes as Ukraine prepares to launch a
counteroffensive in an effort to wrestle back territory seized by
Russia since Moscow invaded its neighbour in February 2022,
sparking the biggest conflict on European soil since World War
II.
The missiles, produced by a Germany-Swedish joint venture Taurus
Systems, would allow Ukraine to strike well inside Russia with
their range of more than 500 kilometres (310 miles).
The United States and other Western countries providing arms to
Ukraine have up to now been cautious on giving Kyiv weapons that
could reach inside nuclear-armed Russia, potentially widening the
conflict.
Previously seen as reticent on supplying weapons, Germany has
become the second-biggest contributor of military assistance to
Ukraine after the United States.
It is currently preparing its biggest-yet military aid package,
including anti-missile systems, 30 additional Leopard 1 tanks, more
than 100 armoured combat vehicles and more than 200 surveillance
drones.
But it has so far been cautious on the issue of fighter jets and
air-to-surface missiles.
---
MENAFN27052023000195011045ID1106330674
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.