British offer

Taurus debate: ring swap as a way out for Scholz?

Will Taurus cruise missiles end up landing in Ukraine after all? The British government has made an offer of help.(Bild: APA/AFP/Sebastian PIEKNIK)

During a visit to Germany, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron made a strong plea for the delivery of long-range weapons to Ukraine. In order to soften German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's negative stance on the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles (see video above) to Kiev, Cameron has now proposed a ring swap.

Among other things, the UK is supplying Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine. Scholz, on the other hand, is known to oppose the provision of the more long-range Taurus cruise missiles by the German Armed Forces because he fears that Germany could become involved in the war. However, the government in London does not accept this position. In this context, Cameron referred to similar debates since Russia's invasion of Ukraine after a meeting with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock on Thursday.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has them, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj would like to have them: Taurus cruise missiles.(Bild: APA/DPA/MICHAEL KAPPELER)

It has been said: "Giving Ukraine anti-tank weapons is an escalation. No, it wasn't. If you give Ukraine tanks, that's an escalation. No, it wasn't. If you give Ukraine long-range artillery or long-range missiles, that's an escalation. No, that's not it."

The Taurus cruise missile

• According to the manufacturer, the rocket-shaped Taurus KEPD-350 has a range of up to 500 kilometers, meaning that pilots do not have to enter enemy airspace to fire it.
• The missiles, which are around five meters long and weigh almost 1400 kilograms, are equipped with their own engine and four independent navigation systems.
• In autonomous low-level flight, they should be difficult to hit by enemy air defenses at an altitude of less than 50 meters.

Cameron: "Allowing Ukraine to defend itself"
When it comes to helping a country defend itself against illegal and completely unjustified aggression, nothing should stop you, emphasized Cameron. "As long as we are not in a situation where a NATO soldier kills a Russian soldier, we are not causing an escalation, we are allowing Ukraine to defend itself."

Will Taurus cruise missiles end up landing in Ukraine after all? The British government has made an offer of help.(Bild: APA/AFP/Sebastian PIEKNIK)

This is how the delivery could take place
In an interview with the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" newspaper, the former British Prime Minister suggested an exchange of rings with Germany. As part of such a deal, Germany could hand over Taurus cruise missiles to the UK and London could in turn supply more Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine. "We are prepared to look at all options to achieve the maximum effect for Ukraine," said Cameron. However, he would "not give details and tell our opponents what we are planning".