As of: March 9, 2024, 5:58 p.m
By: Jens Kiffmeier
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Olaf Scholz continues to reject the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine.
(Collage of symbolic images) © Collage: IMAGO / Westlight // IMAGO / photothek
The Taurus debate is dividing Germany, but Britain could offer a solution.
An exchange of rings is still on the cards – despite the trouble with the wiretapping.
Berlin – German-British relations have not been the best in the past few days.
The German Chancellor, of all people, was to blame.
Olaf Scholz (SPD) chatted a little too freely about the fact that Great Britain might not only supply Ukraine with long-range missiles, but also send them the target acquisition data.
But that would be a no-go for the German head of government, which is why he would rather not have German Taurus missiles brought into the war-torn country.
The Chancellor's chat didn't go down well with his NATO partner.
But despite this diplomatic incident, the British want to remain cooperative.
Dispute over Taurus deliveries to Ukraine: Great Britain repeats offer to exchange rings
In view of Olaf Scholz's (SPD) concerns about the delivery of Taurus missiles to Ukraine, Great Britain has now once again offered the Chancellor a way out.
Foreign Minister David Cameron remained determined to “work closely with our German partners to help Ukraine,” as he told the
Süddeutsche Zeitung
.
Against this background, Cameron believes that a ring exchange is still possible, which could allay Scholz's concerns about the arms deliveries.
In such an exchange, Germany would give Taurus cruise missiles to Great Britain - and London, in turn, would deliver further Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine.
Germany could thus indirectly support Ukraine without the long-range Taurus cruise missiles being delivered to the war zone.
“We are prepared to look at all options to achieve the maximum effect for Ukraine,” Cameron said.
But he “will not give any details and will tell our opponents what we are planning.”
Too long a range in the Ukraine war: Scholz rejects delivery of Taurus cruise missiles
Scholz rejects the delivery of the Taurus missiles with a range of 500 kilometers to Ukraine because he fears that this could drag Germany into the war.
Germany “could not do what the British and French are doing in terms of targeting and accompanying targeting,” he said, justifying his rejection – and thus causing an international outcry.
This was taken by some as a sign that Scholz did not trust the Ukrainians to use the missiles responsibly.
Cameron rejected Scholz's concerns that the delivery of cruise missiles could lead to an escalation of the war.
It is “absolutely possible to impose restrictions on the use of these weapons to ensure that they do not in any way contribute to escalation.”
And they don’t,” he said.
Great Britain trusts Ukraine's corresponding assurances.
They are satisfied with the arrangements they have made.
A Taurus ring exchange has been thought about for a long time.
According to dpa
information, there were already
considerations in January about supplying Taurus rockets from the Bundeswehr to NATO partners such as Great Britain and France.
According to media reports, Great Britain had already offered weeks earlier to give Ukraine more of its Storm Shadow missiles in return.
The Green Party politician Anton Hofreiter called for people to accept a ring exchange offer.
The best solution would be a direct Taurus delivery, he told the newspapers of the
Funke
media group
.
“But before Ukraine doesn’t get any more cruise missiles, exchanging rings is a possibility.” Scholz shouldn’t “stand in the way of that.”
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Taurus dispute: Unexpected support from Laschet for the Chancellor
This means that the Taurus question remains controversial in the traffic light coalition.
Because while parts of the Greens and the FDP believe delivery is feasible, the SPD is still on the brakes.
Next week, the Union wants to submit another proposal to the Bundestag and have the issue voted on.
But it remains to be seen whether the CDU and CSU are really united behind the project and can win a majority together with the Greens and FDP.
At the weekend, concerns became apparent in the ranks of the opposition for the first time.
However, the former candidate for chancellor Armin Laschet certainly showed understanding for Scholz's attitude.
“I think the Chancellor’s fundamental position of acting carefully and prudently so as not to become a party to war is correct,” Laschet told the Kölner Stadtanzeiger.
The importance of Taurus deliveries for the course of the war is exaggerated.
“I think it is much more important that we actually deliver the weapons and ammunition we have already promised to Ukraine and more quickly.
You have to rely on that,” said Laschet.
Taurus leak in the Bundeswehr: Russia is heavily involved in the debate
But the federal government is under pressure from all sides.
While Ukraine is vehemently demanding new weapons and ammunition, Russia is also intensifying its attacks.
Last weekend, a meeting between four Bundeswehr generals was leaked.
In it, the military discussed the possibility of a delivery and possible operational targets - this was a great opportunity for the Kremlin.
Since then, not a day goes by without Russia warning of German interference in the Ukraine war and threatening retaliation.
For Scholz, the decision to deliver has not become any easier.
(
jkf
/with material from
dpa
)