“I am the Chancellor, so that applies”: Scholz continues to say no to Taurus deliveries

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Despite critical voices in his own coalition, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (65) has reiterated his rejection of the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine.

“I am the Chancellor, and therefore this applies,” he said in a question-and-answer session at a vocational school center in Sindelfingen, Baden-Württemberg, on Monday. Scholz did not comment on the conversation between senior Bundeswehr officers about Taurus, intercepted by Moscow, but the group was not asked about it either.

The wiretapping affair led to demands from all political camps for a rapid and comprehensive investigation. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned on Monday in Montenegro’s capital Podgorica: “As important as it is for us as the federal government to clarify this incident now, the facts are clear. And there can be no question of a reversal of perpetrator and victim here.” If Russia had not brutally attacked Ukraine, it would not have to defend itself and Germany would not have to supply weapons.

Scholz does not want to get involved in the war

On Friday, Russia published a recorded conference call of four senior officers, including Air Force Chief Ingo Gerhartz. In it, they discussed operational scenarios for the German cruise missile if it were delivered to Ukraine. There was also discussion about the possible destruction of the Russian-built bridge to Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula, which had been annexed in violation of international law. The officers concluded that rapid delivery and rapid deployment would only be possible with the participation of German soldiers – and that the Taurus training of Ukrainian soldiers for a mission under their own control would take months.

However, the recording also shows that there is no political green light for the delivery of the cruise missiles demanded by Kiev. Chancellor Scholz justified his no by saying that Germany could then become involved in the war. Taurus has a range of 500 kilometers and can therefore also hit targets in Moscow from Ukraine. In contrast to the Chancellor, his coalition partners FDP and the Greens are in favor of supplying this weapon system, as are the Christian Democrats in the opposition. (SDA)

Source: Blick