Germany supports French efforts to equip Ukraine with long-range weapons

Responding to an initiative put forward by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on March 15 that European countries intend to form another “capability alliance” to provide long-range weapons to Ukrainian forces.

Specifically, at a joint press conference with Mr. Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Berlin on March 15, the German Chancellor announced that the countries had agreed to expand the production of military equipment and "buy more weapons for Ukraine on the world market in general."

“We are creating a new alliance of capabilities for long-range rockets,” Mr Scholz told reporters. The German leader did not provide specifics and did not respond to questions from reporters, so it was unclear whether he meant anything new or was referring to a “long-range” initiative announced by Mr Macron last month.

After a pro-Ukraine summit in Paris, Macron said France would lead a new coalition to provide Kiev with “medium- and long-range missiles and bombs.” Like many previous Western “capabilities coalitions” focused on drones, artillery, air defenses and other types, the new group seeks to unite those who want to bolster Ukraine’s specific capabilities to “conduct deep strikes,” the French leader said at the time.

It remains unclear what new weapons Kiev’s foreign sponsors might provide, as Britain and France have supplied long-range Storm Shadow and SCALP-EG cruise missiles since last year, and Macron pledged another 40 in January. The US also sent some ATACMS missiles, but Kiev has exhausted its limited supply and has repeatedly called for more weapons amid a freeze in US aid.

Chancellor Scholz, under pressure from foreign partners and some domestic politicians, has so far refused to send German-made Taurus missiles to Ukraine to avoid the risk of direct conflict with Russia.

On March 13, Mr. Scholz again emphasized that the delivery of Taurus missiles was “a line that I do not want to cross as chancellor.” He explained that such a shipment would certainly require the presence of German military personnel on Ukrainian soil – a development that “cannot happen.”