Ukraine has been demanding this from Germany for months Delivery of Taurus cruise missilesto be able to attack Russian positions far behind the front line. After one Report from “Bild” and the ARD capital studio It must now be clear that the federal government will not comply with the wishes of the country attacked by Russia for the time being.
The Tagesspiegel Ukraine newsletter Here, more than 60,000 readers hear all the important news about the war every day.
However, there was initially no confirmation of this on Wednesday night. “On the issue of Taurus cruise missiles, there are no new status to be communicated“, said one Government spokesperson at the request of the German Press Agency.
In simple language, this means: There is no further formal decision. The federal government has repeatedly stated in recent weeks that the decision will not be taken lightly and that the issue will continue to be discussed with alliance partners.
No formal rejection from Kiev
“Bild” also reported that Germany has so far responded to the government’s request from Kiev Missiles with a range of 500 kilometers have not been formally rejected. However, it has become clear internally that the Taurus rockets are not currently being delivered. Therefore, Scholz is keeping his options for the future open.
The Chancellor has recently and repeatedly stated publicly that Germany is currently focusing on we want to focus on providing air defense systems. From him Skeptical attitudes towards cruise missiles have long been known. The reason behind this is that these weapons can also be used to fire on Russian territory.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) is skeptical about the Taurus rockets. © dpa/Fabian Sommer
The British and French can do something “that we are not allowed to do”
Great Britain and France we still have cruise missiles of practically identical types “Storm Shadow” and “Scalp“delivered. According to “Bild”, Scholz said at a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee last week that these two countries “can do something that we are not authorized to do”, and added: “Therefore the question does not arise.”
What this means is that Britain and France Britain also provided geographic data for missile targets, with its own personnel on the ground in Ukraine. This is out of the question for the federal government.
Additionally, according to the report, German government representatives expressed concern that Taurus cruise missiles could hit the Kerch Bridge, between the Russian mainland and the Russian-annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea.
I hope that the Chancellor (Olaf Scholz) will finally open the way to sensible support for Ukraine.
Anton Hofreiter, President of the European Committee in the Bundestag (Greens)
In the opinion of the federal government, Green Party politician Anton Hofreiter With its reluctance to deliver Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, which has long been discussed, it sent a “devastating signal” to Moscow. Lack of determination and difficult discussions The weapons systems only strengthen Moscow’s belief that it can win the war in the long term, Hofreiter said on Deutschlandfunk on Thursday.
“As long as we continue to send this signal out of fear, out of oppression, out of not being able to decide quickly enough, this war will continue,” he warned. The President of the European Committee in the Bundestag has long been in favor of the supply of Taurus cruise missiles.
Hofreiter described him as “big problem”, that there will be no delivery of Taurus to Ukraine for now. “I hope the Chancellor (Olaf Scholz) finally clears the way for sensible support for Ukraine,” he said on Deutschlandfunk.
More on the subject:
What do US tanks bring to Ukraine? “Russia’s drones reduce the value of Abrams” Questions about Ukraine aid How trustworthy is the US superpower? Will Warsaw stop supplying Kiev with new weapons? Allies like Poland are Putin’s hope
CDU foreign politician Kiesewetter: Germany’s total failure
O CDU foreign politician Roderich Kiesewetter on Wednesday reiterated his demand that the Taurus rockets be delivered to Ukraine: “By canceling the delivery of the Taurus, Scholz confirms this Total failure of Germany as a self-proclaimed leading nation for European security and offends our partners like Britain and France, who already supply cruise missiles,” he told “Bild”. (dpa)