Fri Sep 13 15:36:00 UTC 2024: ## Germany Rejects Long-Range Missiles for Ukraine Amid Rising Tensions with Russia

**New York/Berlin** – The debate over supplying Ukraine with long-range missiles capable of striking targets in Russia continues to escalate tensions between Moscow and the West.

Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia warned that providing Ukraine with such weaponry would constitute a direct declaration of war against Russia, a nuclear power. “NATO will be a direct party to hostilities,” he declared, urging the Security Council to consider the consequences of such an escalation.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reiterated Berlin’s refusal to provide Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles. “Germany has made a clear decision about what we will do and what we will not do. This decision will not change,” Scholz stated during a press conference.

This comes as US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer are set to meet in Washington to discuss whether to grant Ukraine permission to use Western-supplied long-range missiles against Russia. This decision has been met with mounting pressure from Kyiv, which is seeking greater freedom to defend itself against Russian attacks.

While the US and UK have already provided Ukraine with ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles, respectively, Germany has steadfastly maintained its opposition to providing long-range weapons. Germany’s Defense Minister, Boris Pistorius, stated that the decision of the US and UK remains their prerogative, but emphasized that allowing Ukraine to strike targets in Russia would be legally permissible under international law.

Despite facing growing domestic pressure to scale back its support for Ukraine, the German government insists it remains fully committed to assisting Kyiv in its defense against Russia.

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