Scholz explains his reluctance to send Taurus long-range missiles to Ukraine

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has reiterated that he objects to supplying Kiev  with Taurus cruise missiles, citing concerns that his country could find itself dragged into the conflict.

"We should not be linked with any targets this system may reach in any way," he told a conference organized by the DPA news agency, the AP reports.

"We must make this clear. I am shocked that some don’t care, that they don’t even stop and think that it might come to  being dragged into the war because of what we are doing," he said.

In previous arguments why Germany could not send Taurus missiles, Scholz said he was concerned German personnel would have to be on the ground in Ukraine to help the missile targeting process, which he has ruled out.