"The supply of the Taurus missile depends on Germany, but with the US decision to provide ATACMS and similar moves by London and Paris to furnish Kyiv with long-range cruise missiles, we are hopeful that this may influence Berlin to reconsider its stance," stated an unnamed senior Pentagon official, as reported by Deutsche Welle.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has repeatedly refused to send the Taurus to Ukraine, citing concerns about escalating the conflict with Russia.

Scholz's stance has drawn strong criticism from the conservative opposition CDU/CSU bloc, with members of the ruling coalition also arguing in favor of providing the Taurus.

"This is a highly advanced weapon system, but its use would require the deployment of German soldiers to maintain control over targets," Scholz told Bundestag lawmakers in March.

Johann Wadeful, the CDU's deputy leader for foreign affairs and defense in the German parliament, expressed frustration at Scholz's refusal to supply Taurus to Ukraine, stressing its importance and sophistication compared to U.S. ATACMS systems.

The Taurus KEPD-350 missile, launched from fighter jets, has advanced capabilities, including a range of up to 500 kilometers (310 miles) and high-speed precision targeting.

"It's not a panacea, but Ukraine urgently needs to strike deeper into Russia," Wadeful said.

In response to Scholz's reluctance to send Taurus missiles, Wadeful criticized the chancellor's "stubborn position" and stressed the need for strength, clarity and determination when dealing with figures like Vladimir Putin.