Following the lifting of restrictions on the US ATACMS missile system, debate over the supply of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine has reignited in Germany. The CDU/CSU, the FDP and the Greens are in favor of expanding military aid to this weapon system. But Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) remains unequivocal in his position: no Taurus in Kiev under his chancellorship.
The chancellor’s position remains “unchanged”. This will “no longer change,” government spokesman Wolfgang Büchner said on Monday. His current government partner and Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens) had stated the day before in an interview with the ARD Capital Studio that as head of government he would agree to the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles.
FDP brings a new mood into play in the Bundestag
FDP leader and former Finance Minister Christian Lindner and CDU Chairman Friedrich Merz also support supporting Ukraine with expanded weapons. Lindner even recently brought up a new vote on this in the Bundestag – in the hope that the three parties could achieve a majority against the Chancellor’s veto. However, when it comes to arms exports, it is usually not the Bundestag that decides, but rather the Federal Security Council. The Chancellor has the final say there.
Before the EU Council of Foreign Ministers in Brussels on Monday, numerous participants, together with EU Foreign Affairs Representative Josep Borrell, supported the authorization given by US President Biden this weekend, according to media reports. Borrell appealed to EU member states to allow Ukraine to use European weapons to carry out attacks in Russia. The Spaniard also called for faster support to Ukraine. He expected further discussion on the use of weapons in Ukraine and hoped “that member states would agree.”
Video: The Taurus cruise missile explained (published March 2024)
Baerbock: “Destroy launch bases”
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock responded approvingly. The point now is “that the Ukrainians do not have to wait for the missile to fly over the border, but that they can destroy the military launch bases from which the missile is flown,” Baerbock said on rbb Inforadio on Monday. This falls within the scope of every country’s right to self-defense.
Her French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot said that President Emmanuel Macron had already stated that he was considering this option to “attack targets from which Russia is attacking Ukrainian territory.” Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Caspar Veldkamp sees the release of the weapons as the right response to the deployment of North Korean soldiers on the Russian side. Lithuanian chief diplomat Gabrielius Landsbergis called for a “new strategy for Ukraine”.
Hungary and Slovakia criticize the American release
However, Hungary and Slovakia criticized the US approval of long-range weapons against targets on Russian territory. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó called the decision “dangerous.” Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said he strongly disagreed with the US decision. “This is an unprecedented escalation,” Fico said in a statement.
Meanwhile, China again pushed for an end to the war. “An early ceasefire and a political solution serve the interests of all parties involved,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said in Beijing on Monday. “The most urgent thing is to bring about a cooling of the situation as soon as possible,” he added.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
