Scholz rejects delivery of long-range weapons to Ukraine

Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz has dismissed the possibility of delivering long-range precision weapons to Ukraine, even if NATO allies decide differently.

Scholz reaffirmed his opposition to supplying Taurus cruise missiles with comments made in response to questions at a public forum in the town of Prenzlau, in Germany's eastern state of Brandenburg, on the weekend.

He stated that such an action would involve "a great risk of escalation" in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The 500-kilometer range of Taurus cruise missiles would extend Ukraine's potential attack radius to include Moscow, reported the DPA news agency.

"I said no to that," Scholz said. "And of course that also applies to other weapons, if we had supplied them, which could reach this long distance."

Scholz said his decision "remains the case … even if other countries decide differently".

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has been calling for long-range weaponry to enable Ukrainian military forces to strike Russian supply lines and air bases situated beyond the immediate combat zone.

DPA noted that while Germany's longest-range weapon supplied to Ukraine has a range of 84 kilometers, some NATO allies have supplied missiles that are able to reach up to 300 km, sparking debate about potentially authorizing strikes on Russian soil.

Scholz's remarks follow recent comments from United States President Joe Biden on potentially lifting restrictions on Ukraine's use of long-range Western weapons to strike targets within Russian territory.

United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Biden at the White House last week, and despite holding talks on weapons for Ukraine, the leaders gave no clear indication of their intentions.

During his address in Prenzlau on Saturday, Scholz also emphasized Berlin's commitment to bringing those responsible for the 2022 Nord Stream gas pipelines attack to justice.

"That was a terroristic act," Scholz declared, noting that his administration had instructed security agencies and prosecutors to pursue the investigation. "We want to bring those who did this, if we can get a hold of them, to court in Germany."

He added that there would be "no leniency" with the case.

On Monday, Russian officials said Scholz was correct to seek a comprehensive inquiry into the explosions that ruptured the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines that were built to carry Russian gas to Europe under the Baltic Sea, reported Reuters.

The Kremlin suggested that certain Western nations were attempting to suppress the true circumstances of the incident.

No one has ever claimed responsibility for the explosions, which took place seven months after the outbreak of conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Scholz noted that prior to the blasts, Russia had already ceased pumping gas through the pipelines. He added that replacing Russian gas supplies with alternative supplies had brought Germany costs exceeding 100 billion euros ($111 billion).