As of: February 29, 2024, 11:49 a.m
By: Nail Akkoyun
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Chancellor Scholz is causing a stir with his statements about the Taurus debate.
His words could have betrayed a military operation in Ukraine.
Berlin/London – In the midst of the Taurus debate, Olaf Scholz (SPD) sparked a controversy and thus attracted the wrath of Great Britain.
At an event in Berlin on Monday (February 26), the Chancellor once again emphasized that Germany would not deliver Taurus cruise missiles to Kiev - and at the same time possibly revealed that British soldiers are in Ukraine.
“It is a very long-range weapon.
And what the British and French are doing in terms of target control and accompanying target control cannot be done in Germany.
Everyone who has dealt with this system knows that,” said Scholz.
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) at the beginning of the Federal Cabinet meeting in the Chancellery.
The photo was taken on February 28, 2024. © Emmanuele Contini/Imago
Criticism of Chancellor Scholz: Ukraine statements “completely irresponsible”
Although this statement can be interpreted in different ways, the
Telegraph
has already strongly criticized the Chancellor: "This is a blatant misuse of intelligence information, which is deliberately intended to distract from Germany's hesitation to arm Ukraine with its own long-range missile system." said Tobias Ellwood, former chairman of the British Defense Committee.
Russia will “undoubtedly use” the situation to further escalate.
Scholz was also criticized by German opposition MPs.
CDU foreign policy expert Norbert Röttgen described the Chancellor's statements as “completely irresponsible”.
When it comes to the reluctance to deliver Taurus systems, Scholz's former competitor for the Chancellery, Armin Laschet (CDU), showed understanding.
He does not have all the information that the Chancellor has that would have led him to make his decision.
“But I have always understood his reserved nature on this issue,” said Laschet.
One must ensure that the war in Ukraine does not escalate further.
London confirms: British soldiers in Ukraine – but not involved in operations
On Tuesday (February 27), the British government confirmed that it has deployed a "small number" of soldiers in Ukraine.
However, London stressed that some of them are involved in the troops' medical training.
Otherwise, Scholz's statements were completely contradicted;
they are not taking part in the use of Storm Shadow missiles on Ukrainian soil.
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Dealing with the cruise missiles is entirely “a matter for the Ukrainian armed forces,” a spokesman for the British Ministry of Defense told the
AFP
news agency on Wednesday (February 28) .
The ministry had previously made a similar statement to
Spiegel
.
The use of these systems plays "a fundamental role" in the defense of Ukraine and has "changed the strategic situation by increasing pressure on Russian forces and their supply lines," the spokesman said.
The Ukrainian armed forces are currently under massive pressure in their defensive battle because there is a lack of Western supplies, especially ammunition.
Great Britain and France began supplying Kiev with jointly produced long-range “Storm Shadow” and “Scalp” missiles last year.
The projectiles have a range of around 500 kilometers - just like the German Taurus rockets.
(nak/AFP)