Russia threatens Germany if it gives Taurus missiles to Ukraine

Moscow has stated that any use of German Taurus cruise missiles against targets in Russia will be regarded as Germany's direct participation in the war.

Here's What We Know

This was stated by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova during a briefing on 17 April. She also said that the Ukrainian military would not be able to use these missiles without the direct assistance of German experts, including members of the Bundeswehr.

According to Zakharova, in the event of a strike on Russia's critical infrastructure, it would mean "Berlin's participation in hostilities on the side of Kyiv with all the consequences for Germany". She also stressed that Moscow considers the interference of German specialists in the process of preparing and using missiles to be evidence of the country's direct involvement in the conflict.

This statement was made amid discussions in Germany about the possibility of transferring Taurus missiles to Ukraine, which can hit targets at a long range of up to 500 km. Earlier, the German government has repeatedly stated that the supply of such weapons requires additional discussion due to the complexity of their use and the risks of escalation.

Source: DW