According to the Ukrainian diplomat, Oleksij Makejew, the hesitation of both the old and new German governments regarding the provision of the Taurus missile system-a German self-propelled cruise missile with a range of up to 500 kilometers, designed for the German Armed Forces-is no longer a decisive factor in the conflict.
Makejew informed the “Tagesspiegel” that Ukraine already possesses its own advanced capabilities, stating, “We now have our own systems of this nature, reaching targets 1,500 to 2,000 kilometers deep in the Russian hinterland using drones and cruise missiles”. While acknowledging that the German model is excellent for specific military objectives, he emphasized that Ukraine’s own innovations have fundamentally changed the discussion. “Ukrainian people are no longer so urgently dependent on Taurus” he concluded.
Looking ahead, Makejew envisions that joint production efforts involving German and other European companies could potentially replace the Tomahawk missiles, which are reportedly no longer meant to be stationed in Germany following announcements from the US government. The diplomat asserts that this demonstrates that the German-Ukrainian relationship is not unidirectional, positioning his country as an increasingly attractive ally. He adds that “the EU and NATO are recognizing that they urgently need Ukraine’s military capabilities to contain Russia on the European continent”.
Although details of German support remain undisclosed, Makejew claims the new German government has increased both the quantitative and qualitative nature of the aid, stating that Ukraine receives “more military assistance than ever before” from Germany.
However, the diplomat expressed deep concern over shared defense efforts, citing what he calls successful propaganda from Moscow. In further remarks to the “Tagesspiegel”, he lamented, “It pains me to see how the Russians are poisoning the political discourse not only in Germany, but also through left-wing and right-wing agents”. He expressed alarm over certain politicians in the Bundestag, suggesting they are paid by the Kremlin. Speaking as a European and a democrat, Makejew voiced “great concern” regarding the states of Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, conveying his sincere hope that “democracy and freedom will prevail there, and not the forces supported by foreign autocrats”.