Olaf Scholz Reaffirms Stance: German Missiles for Ukraine Remain Off the Table

The White House has made a significant shift in policy, just as Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region prepare for a major military offensive, which could involve around 50,000 troops, including 10,000 reportedly from North Korea. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to broker a peace deal immediately after taking office, raising concerns in Kyiv that Ukraine may be pressured into making concessions it does not want. In addition, the U.S. decision could reportedly clear the way for Ukraine to use long-range missiles provided by the U.K. and France to strike Russian territory.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, the U.S. and Germany, the two largest military backers of Ukraine, have maintained a close alliance, often with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz waiting for U.S. President Joe Biden to act before following suit. However, this time, Scholz, who has consistently refused to send Germany’s Taurus missiles due to fears of escalating the conflict, seems unlikely to follow Biden’s lead. As a national election approaches on February 23, Scholz is focusing on positioning himself as a stable option to prevent the war from worsening, according to reports.

However, the U.S. move has garnered praise from other German officials. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, a member of the Green Party, welcomed the Biden administration’s approval of long-range strikes into Russia, stating that it aligns with the positions of Eastern European allies, the U.K., France, and the U.S., and maintained that such actions are within the bounds of international law. She expressed her views during an interview with a German radio station.

Friedrich Merz, the leader of the center-right Christian Democratic Union and Germany’s likely next chancellor, has been critical of Scholz’s refusal to supply Ukraine with long-range missiles and indicated he would be open to delivering such weapons if he takes office.

In a notable diplomatic moment, Scholz held a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin for about an hour on Friday—their first direct communication in nearly two years. This effort at “phone diplomacy” was met with criticism from Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who dismissed it as inadequate compared to concrete action. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also voiced his disapproval, cautioning that Scholz’s outreach might “open a Pandora’s box” and undermine global efforts to isolate Russia.