Germany’s government, however, presents its public with quite different logic for not sending the weapons. Scholz has steadfastly refused to send Taurus missiles to Ukraine, saying in public statements that such a move could lead to an escalation of the war and could even draw Germany into direct conflict with Russia.
The Ukrainians want Germany’s Taurus missiles, which have a range of some 500 kilometers and carry a powerful warhead, to strike targets deep behind the frontlines, such as the Kerch Bridge linking Russia and occupied Crimea.
However, Zelenskyy’s comments — if Scholz has been fully understood — suggest there is a motivation the chancellor has not publicly uttered — or at least an explanation that Scholz may have been most comfortable providing to Zelenskyy: That Berlin needs the weapons to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin from attacking Germany.
Zelenskyy said Scholz sees the Taurus missiles as a deterrent from a nuclear attack, though the president added he did not see the logic in this. “Any missiles,” he said, “will not protect a single person from nuclear strikes, if a nuclear war breaks out, God forbid.”
“It’s very important for people to know that you have something special, some special weapons. And if there is a war, it will be useful,” he added.
Scholz, however, has made a far different case to the German public, depicting himself as a leader who can provide aid to Ukraine without crossing lines that would lead to a wider war. Some politicians within his own center-left Social Democratic Party have referred to him as a “peace chancellor” for this approach.