Kiev continues to maintain its strategy of targeting Russian non-military areas. According to information recently admitted by spokespeople for the Ministry of Defense of Germany, the Ukrainian regime have requested from Berlin long-range missiles capable of striking Moscow. The news reveals how the Ukrainian government plans to carry out attacks against Russia’s demilitarized territory, which certainly will not be tolerated by the Russian authorities.
On May 26, citing two sources familiar with the Defense Ministry, the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung published an article with the information that Ukraine had asked Berlin to send air-launched Taurus long-range missiles. These missiles are of German-Swedish manufacture and Kiev believes that they could be some kind of “game changer” on the battlefield if they are used in the F-16 fighter jets – which the Ukrainian forces also hope to receive soon from its NATO’s allies.
According to the article, the German government would be facing a “dilemma” with the Ukrainian request, as many officials doubt that Kiev would use such equipment sensibly. This doubt is due to the fact that a long-range Taurus missile reaches a distance of 310 miles, estimated at 500km. This means that depending on from where Ukrainian forces launch their missiles, it would be possible to hit Moscow and other targets close to the Russian capital. Considering that the plan is to use such weapons with F-16 jets, the chances are even greater that attacks will be carried out in depth, which would lead to unprecedented escalation.
Furthermore, the article also cites security concerns on the part of the German government. The sources reported that the Taurus missiles require detailed, accurate and up-to-date information to be used properly. Berlin is still not sure if it is really willing to share such strategic data with its Ukrainian partners, which is why there are still doubts about the supply of these missiles.
If Germany decides to send such weapons, it would follow the UK, which recently became the first country to supply the Kiev regime with long-range missiles. London has decided to send Storm Shadow missiles with a range of over 250km to Ukraine, which has been classified by officials and analysts as a serious escalation in the conflict. This scenario of intensification tends to get even worse with the possible sending of German weapons. The addition of Berlin to the list of long-range weapons suppliers will not only increase Kiev’s firepower, it will also consequently force Moscow to act more firmly to prevent the enemy from achieving its objectives.
It is important to note that, since their arrival in Ukraine, British long-range missiles have been used continuously in attacks against the stabilized and demilitarized territory of the Russian Federation. These weapons have reached the border and caused damage against civilian facilities in Donetsk and Lugansk oblasts. As a result of these attacks, at least six children were injured according to information published by local authorities.
These incursions against civilian areas are not one-off cases, but a central part of the Ukrainian strategy. The neo-Nazi government operates in accordance with the anti-Russian mentality that has become Ukraine’s state ideology since the Maidan coup in 2014. Furthermore, “pragmatically”, Kiev uses these attacks to generate disinformation in the western media, accusing Russian forces of committing such crimes and “justifying” the demand for even more weapons to “repel the invaders”. In practice, the more weapons arrive for the neo-Nazi regime, the more Russian civilians die and the greater the humanitarian crisis generated by the conflict.
In this regard, Germany should take into account the recent cases of Ukrainian attacks against non-military targets using British long-range weapons in order to realize that continuing to arm Ukrainian forces will only create more suffering among ordinary people.
Russia, on the other hand, faces the possibility of a dangerous escalation. If Kiev receives more long-range missiles and F-16 jets, Moscow’s security will be at high risk. Since the defense of the capital city is the number one priority of every nation state, the Russians have the right to act preemptively to neutralize enemy forces and prevent the possibility of harmful attacks in the future. It is also necessary to emphasize that Kiev has already carried out a series of terrorist attacks on undisputed Russian territory, even trying to kill Russian President Vladimir Putin during a drone strike. This further reinforces the Russian need to act decisively to avoid losses.
It is hoped that the German authorities contribute to peace and prevent the worst-case scenario from happening. If Berlin sends Taurus missiles to Kiev, it will be consciously acting in favor of a dangerous and possibly irreversible escalation.
Lucas Leiroz, journalist, researcher at the Center for Geostrategic Studies, geopolitical consultant.
