Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Germany on Wednesday against supplying Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine.
“If (…) missiles appear that can carry out attacks on objects on Russian territory, then this will of course destroy Russian-German relations once and for all,” Putin said in St. Petersburg at a press conference with major international news . agencies, including DPA.
Relations between the two powers have deteriorated since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Putin did not say which areas would be further “destroyed” in the event of deliveries to the Taurus.
The possible delivery of Taurus missiles to Ukraine has sparked an important debate in Germany. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been reluctant to authorize deliveries, although he recently approved Kiev’s use of German-supplied weapons in Russian border areas to defend the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkov.
The press conference in St. Petersburg is the first of its kind since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Putin is currently hosting the 27th edition of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Moscow is trying to present itself as a stable economic power, despite Western sanctions.
