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The Union vehemently campaigned in the Bundestag to help Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia, by supplying Taurus cruise missiles.
© Michael Kappeler/dpa
The traffic light coalition is divided in the debate, but united at the ballot box.
It is clear in the Bundestag: With the political crowbar there will be no Taurus delivery to Ukraine.
Berlin - The Bundestag has once again rejected by a large majority the immediate delivery of German Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine.
A request from the Union to pass on the extensive weapons system “immediately” did not find a majority on Thursday after a hard-fought debate.
During the deliberations, considerable differences of opinion became clear within the three traffic light parties as to whether or not Germany should make the weapon system available to the country attacked by Russia.
SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich defended Chancellor Olaf Scholz's (SPD) repeated no vote: “Turning times are not for political players.
What is needed is understanding, prudence and clarity.
And the Chancellor does this in the consideration that he has as head of government,” said Mützenich.
690 MPs took part in the vote.
495 parliamentarians voted against the delivery, 190 were in favor and there were 5 abstentions.
The Union parliamentary group has 197 MPs, although not all of them may have been present.
Opponents fear a possible escalation
The Taurus system is characterized by a long range of 500 kilometers and great precision.
The weapon makes it possible to destroy Russian ammunition depots, protected command posts and infrastructure important to the war effort far behind the front.
The 19-kilometer-long Kerch Bridge was repeatedly cited as an example.
It connects Crimea, which was annexed in violation of international law in 2014, and the Russian mainland.
Opponents of a delivery fear a possible escalation.
It has also been pointed out that the weapon could reach as far as Moscow.
The Union vehemently campaigned in the Bundestag to help Ukraine in its defense against Russia by supplying cruise missiles.
Determination and clarity are needed to support Ukraine, said deputy parliamentary group leader Johann Wadephul (CDU).
Wadephul did not accept the argument that the SPD and Chancellor Scholz repeatedly put forward to show prudence by saying no to the delivery: “Your supposed prudence has only fueled Mr. Putin in his aggression against Ukraine.
This is the result.”
The deputy chairwoman of the Green parliamentary group, Agnieszka Brugger, supported the Union's demand in principle.
“The most pressing question is indeed ammunition, but also long-range weapons like Taurus,” she said.
Both are needed.
The Green politician warned: “Hesitation and hesitation can ultimately contribute to escalation.” Brugger also addressed the argument of prudence and emphasized that the Greens would also carefully weigh up all risks.
“We are all aware of the consequences of this decision.
And we as the Greens won’t let anyone deny us that, not even the Chancellor.”
Müller: Only a “clear stance” helps against Putin
A group of Green MPs called for a delivery of Taurus in a personal statement, but also supported consideration of a ring swap in which, for example, Taurus would go to Great Britain and from there other cruise missiles would be given to Ukraine.
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The FDP defense politician Alexander Müller emphasized: “We want to support Ukraine with everything we have, with everything it needs, with everything we can give.
And yes, from our point of view, from the point of view of the Free Democrats, the Taurus is also part of it.” Only unity and a “clear stance” can help against Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, said the FDP politician.
“He respects that, he sees everything else as submissiveness.”
Strict rejection came from AfD parliamentary group leader Tino Chrupalla.
“A shipment of Taurus means prolonging the war,” he warned.
“It may harm Russia, but it also harms the Ukrainians and, above all, it endangers Germany.” The aim must finally be to discuss possible solutions to end the war in Ukraine together with the warring parties at the negotiating table.
In the debate, Sahra Wagenknecht, who is represented as a group in the Bundestag with her left-wing alliance BSW, expressed the conviction that Ukraine could not win the war.
Taurus will not change anything about the deaths in Ukraine, while Germany “would definitely become a warring party in the eyes of Russia.”
dpa