While a broad coalition of supporters for providing Ukraine with long-range Taurus cruise missiles has formed in the German parliament, Chancellor Olaf Scholz still holds arguments against it.

However, it's becoming increasingly difficult for the Chancellor to uphold his stance, raising the chances that Germany may soon supply the Ukrainian Armed Forces with missiles.

More details in the article by EuroPravda journalist Khrystyna Bondareva: Scholz against, coalition for: How Germany Talks on Taurus missiles for Ukraine.

Ukraine officially requested Germany to send Taurus missiles in May, before its summer counteroffensive. It has turned out to be challenging and bloody due to the well-fortified Russian defences.

The role of Taurus missiles is crucial, especially considering Ukraine's lack of air support. Like the Storm Shadow, the Taurus can target critical deep-lying enemy positions, but its main distinction is its range.

Thanks to a more modern jet engine, the Taurus can fly much farther, up to 500 kilometers, and hit targets without entering enemy airspace. This means the aircraft crew's safety is ensured. It travels at a speed of nearly 1000 km/h and at an altitude of less than 50 meters above the ground, making it hard to detect by enemy radar.

The missile is often referred to as a 'bunker buster' due to its ability to destroy even well-protected targets. You can watch its functionality in a video.

Taurus is considered critical for liberating Ukrainian territories, including Crimea. It can cover the entire peninsula.

What arguments are deterring Chancellor Scholz from supplying cruise missiles?

One argument is that even the American allies aren't supplying their cruise missiles, like ATACMS, to Ukraine.

Another concern of the Chancellor is that Ukraine might use these missiles not only against Russian-occupied territories but also against Russian territory itself.

Furthermore, according to official Berlin, German missiles won't change the situation on the battlefield in the short term. Only 150 out of 600 missiles are ready for deployment in the Bundeswehr. Experts note that the manufacturer could restore hundreds of other missiles for export to Ukraine, but this would require time.

However, the German parliament, particularly the ruling coalition, has increased its call for Scholz to expedite the decision.

While it used to be primarily the most active Greens and Free Democrats, the pressure is now coming from the Chancellor's own party as well.

Overall, as a politician from the Free Democratic Party's defence coalition, Markus Faber, observed, all democratic forces in the Bundestag are backing Taurus missiles to Ukraine.

"We have to do this as soon as possible and thus help disrupt the management and logistical support of invading forces," Faber recently stated.

His call came after Scholz's party finally softened its stance.

"I'm not worried that Taurus will be used against targets on Russian territory. So far, we've always been able to rely on appropriate agreements with Kyiv," says another Social Democrat, Scholz's party member, Nils Schmid.

MPs from other parties also point out that Ukraine keeps its word not to use Western weapons in Russia. Kyiv has used Storm Shadow and SCALP missiles exclusively against areas occupied by Russia.

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, a Free Democratic Party MP, even believes that Ukraine has a legitimate right to launch missiles against Russian territory.

Ultimately, experts emphasise that Taurus missiles can be programmed not to reach Russian territory.