German Chancellor Olaf Scholz defended his decision not to give Ukraine Taurus long-range missiles, even as the US has decided to authorize Kyiv to use its weapons to strike inside Russia.

Ukraine may receive from Germany 4,000 high-tech EW-proof drones controlled by artificial intelligence. The weapon system has already been used in battles in the south and east of Ukraine. — Ukrinform.

Germany's government says that Chancellor Olaf Scholz had a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the first such conversation in two years.

The U.S. will allow Ukraine to use American-supplied longer-range weapons to conduct strikes inside Russian territory, a long-sought request by Kyiv. However, that will have no impact on Germany's refusal to deliver Taurus cruise missiles,

The Deputy Spokesperson for the German government, Wolfgang Buechner, confirmed that Chancellor Olaf Scholz maintains his previous decision to refuse the supply of long-range Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine.

The delivery of long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine remains a no-go for Chancellor Olaf Scholz, as they could be used against targets in Russia.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius does not believe that the US approval for ATACMS missile strikes on Russian territory should affect Berlin's position on refusing to supply Ukraine with Taurus missiles.

The answer to this question is yes,” he said, when asked if he would reconsider the Olaf Scholz’s decision not to supply Ukraine with Taurus missiles. He also added that arms deliveries have always been one of the “most difficult decisions” for the German government.