Berlin must work with other European governments to deliver more weapons to the front lines, the newspaper notes.

For more than two years, Vladimir Putin has used threats to deter and discourage Western support for Ukraine. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is now giving Putin reason to believe his tactics are working.

As stated in the Bloomberg material, Scholz rejected Ukraine’s request for the supply of Taurus missiles. The decision reflects Scholz’s political sensitivity and Germany’s general concerns about the escalation of the conflict with Russia. This will likely only further embolden Putin and jeopardize European security.

Taurus missiles will enhance Ukraine’s ability to target Russian supply lines and better defend against attacks on cities and critical infrastructure. Two similar long-range cruise missiles were provided by the UK (Storm Shadow) and France (Scalp). They proved highly effective, in particular, they helped destroy about a third of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. The limited quantity and high cost forced Ukraine to use them rationally. The Taurus will increase this reserve, offer greater range and is a weapon that is highly resistant to detection and engagement by air defense systems.

Scholz argued that sending the missiles would require German soldiers to be stationed in Ukraine – a claim denied by members of his own coalition and some military officials. A leaked conversation about the Taurus among German air force officers and Scholz’s own confusion angered Germany’s closest allies.

Meanwhile, Scholz rejected British proposals to send Ukraine more Storm Shadows and to replenish British stockpiles with Taurus missiles. This may be due to concerns that it will undermine the already reduced capabilities of the Bundeswehr. The recently released annual report on the state of the armed forces revealed alarming shortages of personnel and weapons, as well as a lack of leadership and training.

These shortcomings highlight the need for greater focus on addressing Germany’s underinvestment in its defense while finding ways to ensure Ukraine can obtain the sophisticated weapons systems it needs. Lately, Scholz seems more interested in boosting his party’s weak ratings by promoting pacifist sentiment among the German public.

The Scholz government has also come a long way in the past two years. Last year, Germany transferred Leopard tanks to Ukraine and is now the second largest supplier of military equipment to Kyiv after the United States. The country has accepted more than a million Ukrainian refugees. This month Germany announced a further 500 million euros in military support, including artillery shells and armored vehicles.

But given its size and geopolitical importance, Germany achieves much less weight. Deliveries of weapons systems are happening slowly and on too small a scale. Among NATO members, it ranks only 11th in military contributions as a share of gross domestic product and 16th in financial commitments as a share of GDP.

“As the US Congress blocks additional military aid to Ukraine, it is important that Germany play a more assertive role. Berlin must work with other European governments to deliver more weapons to the front lines,” the newspaper writes.

Ukraine needs a lot of weapons, from ammunition to aircraft, tanks and long-range precision guided missiles. Scholz must continue talks with the leaders of Poland and France on concrete measures to strengthen Europe’s defenses, rebuild a depleted military and provide sufficient support for Ukraine. This requires recognizing that, as Europe’s largest economy, Germany can no longer rely on Washington.

“Above all, those who want peace for Ukraine and Europe must be prepared to show Putin that he cannot win. That this war is existential for Ukraine has become clear since February 2022. Failure to resist Russian aggression would be a mistake , which Germany and Europe as a whole will regret,” the publication concluded.

Help to Ukraine from Germany – latest news

Yesterday it became known that Germany will provide Ukraine with a new aid package worth 500 million euros. It will, in particular, include armored vehicles for infantry and transport equipment.

According to the country’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, Germany will support the defense of Ukraine from aggressive war in the short term with further supplies of ammunition. In particular, it is planned to transfer 10 thousand artillery shells from Bundeswehr warehouses.