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The decision to deliver Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine or not needs to be carefully considered, says Olaf Scholz.
© Sebastian Kahnert/dpa
Despite massive criticism, the Chancellor remains tough on the issue of Taurus missiles to Ukraine.
There is “a lot” against a delivery, says Scholz.
Munich - Chancellor Olaf Scholz has vehemently defended his rejection of deliveries of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine against any criticism.
When asked by the German Press Agency, the SPD politician said at the International Crafts Fair in Munich, “that this is not something we can provide at this point in time”.
He has already declared his support for using Taurus in the past and made his position clear.
“This is a decision that I made as Chancellor and to which I stand by as well.”
Scholz emphasized that there is currently “a lot that speaks” against the delivery of Taurus weapons, and he has already explicitly explained this.
“And I will say again, I will not support any decision that results in German soldiers somehow becoming involved in a military operation in connection with Russia's terrible war against Ukraine.” Scholz had already made similar statements days ago and explains that the Taurus weapon system is very far-reaching and needs to be programmed, for example.
Scholz fears escalation
It must be prevented that there is an escalation of the war, a war between Russia and NATO, said Scholz.
“I agree on this with all my friends in Europe and the USA and elsewhere.
And therefore everything that needs to be said on this topic has been said.”
Taurus is a precision weapon that can hit targets 500 kilometers away.
The Union calls for the Taurus missiles to be delivered to Ukraine.
The SPD's coalition partners - the Greens and FDP - are also mostly in favor of it and had criticized Scholz for rejecting it.
There have also been repeated calls from Ukraine in the past for so-called long-range weapons.
dpa