Russia prepared to strike Germany if Ukraine uses German-supplied Taurus missiles against Russian targets

Russia has threatened to authorize military strikes on German territory if Ukraine uses German-supplied Taurus cruise missiles against Russian targets, escalating tensions in a conflict already teetering on the brink of wider war.

Andrey Kartapolov, chairman of the Defense Committee of the Russian State Duma (the country’s lower house), issued the warning on Wednesday, May 28. The lawmaker argued that Taurus missiles, which boast a 500-kilometer range, require German military personnel to operate. This, he continued, effectively makes Berlin a participant in any Ukrainian strike deep inside Russia.

Kartapolov, a former deputy defense minister, reiterated that Moscow is “ready for everything” if Berlin pushes through with assisting Kyiv with its use of the weapons. “We are prepared to intercept the Taurus missiles, strike the launch sites, the operators and, if necessary, the locations from which they are delivered,” he told Life.ru.

The legislator’s warning comes as Germany’s new Chancellor Friedrich Merz signals a dramatic shift in policy by lifting range restrictions on Western weapons sent to Kyiv – raising the specter of direct North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) involvement. Kartapolov’s remarks underscore Russia’s long-standing claim that Western arms shipments to Ukraine blur the line between support and direct combat engagement.

Lavrov: Germany “crossing a dangerous threshold” in ongoing war

The Taurus KEPD 350, capable of reaching Moscow from Ukrainian territory, has been at the center of debate for months. Merz’s predecessor, former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, hesitated sending the weapons to Kyiv. But following Scholz’s departure, Merz lifted restrictions on the use of the Taurus missiles.

While Merz stopped short of confirming an immediate transfer, he told reporters this week that Germany would help Ukraine produce long-range weapons domestically, with the first systems expected within weeks. According to Der Spiegel, the Kyiv-produced missile systems were easier to operate than the Taurus – albeit not as sophisticated.

“We want to talk about production and we will not publicly discuss details,” he said during a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The German Ministry of Defense later announced an additional €5.2 billion ($5.6 billion) in military aid, much of it earmarked for long-range capabilities.

Following the news of additional aid, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Berlin of crossing a dangerous threshold, invoking historical parallels. “Germany’s direct involvement in the war is now obvious,” he said. Lavrov warned that the country “is sliding down the same slippery slope it already followed a couple of times in the last century – toward its own collapse.”

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts remain fragile, with Russia claiming to be ready to stop the war if Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia will never join NATO.

But Kyiv remains skeptical, with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov stating that future talks “should yield results.” Zelensky accused Moscow of stalling.

However, all these occurred before the Ukraine attacked Russia’s bombers. Now the entire world is waiting to see in which direction the war will be going. The conflict, now in its fourth year, shows no signs of giving a chance to peace.

yogaesoteric
June 4, 2025