Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin has warned he will use a deadly missile against Germany if the country decides to provide further support to Ukraine, sparking WW3 fears
Vladimir Putin has issued a chilling warning about where Russia currently stands with the West – and stressed Germany could trigger WW3 if it makes one wrong move. It comes after the president addressed Germany’s future support to Ukraine’s military during a meeting in St Petersburg.
In an updated threat, the 72-year-old said that if Germany sent Taurus cruise missiles to the war-torn country, he would be forced to act. He believes Germany isn’t a “neutral state” and said it has so far favoured Ukraine. Speaking at the meeting with senior editors, Putin said: “What is this, if not the involvement of the Federal Republic in a direct armed conflict with the Russian Federation? It can’t be called anything else.”
READ MORE: Vladimir Putin’s Russian war machine to be hit by new UK sanctions
While Berlin has so far ruled out sending Taurus missiles, Putin’s language makes it clear the Kremlin is closely watching — and preparing to respond. Germany’s Taurus cruise missiles have a range of over 300 miles and would give Ukrainian forces a significant deep-strike capability, including the potential to hit targets inside Russian territory.
Putin said Ukraine would not be able to use the missiles effectively without extensive Western help, including satellite targeting data and technical support. He claimed this would require the involvement of German military personnel, thus crossing what he described as a red line.
He said: “To fire these missiles, Ukraine would need Western satellite intelligence and German officers to take care of targeting. If they were fired at Russia, that would mean German officers striking Russian territory.” Putin said even if Taurus missiles were eventually delivered, they would make no difference to the outcome of the war.
He claimed his forces were making gains on multiple fronts, adding that Russia was in control of the overall direction of the conflict. His remarks appear designed both to deter Berlin from changing its position and to send a broader signal to NATO members weighing up further arms packages for Ukraine.
Despite the threat, Putin said he remained open to direct talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. He said: “If the Federal Chancellor wants to call and talk, I have already said this many times — we do not refuse any contacts. And we are always open to this.”
However, he ruled out viewing Germany as a neutral actor in the conflict. He said: “We consider the Federal Republic, just like many other European countries, not a neutral state, but as a party supporting Ukraine, and in some cases, perhaps, as accomplices in these hostilities.”
Putin’s comments mark one of his clearest threats to date of a direct clash between Russia and a NATO member — and highlight the Kremlin’s growing alarm over long-range weapons transfers.
While Chancellor Merz has not commented publicly, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has said there are “no plans” to send Taurus missiles, despite repeated requests from Kyiv.