British combat troops in Ukraine? No evidence, but a lot of shouting. Why so many people are now talking about an American theocracy

Two comments from Germany are causing a stir – and there is already speculation about whether Britain and France have soldiers stationed in Ukraine who are actively participating in combat operations. This could be seen as crossing a red line, something that people do not want to risk, especially in Germany.

There is a lot of excitement, but the facts are thin. Apart from statements with a lot of room for interpretation, there is no proof or evidence, videos or the like to support the speculation.

How did this speculation arise?

The first comment: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz does not want to supply Ukraine with Taurus cruise missiles. He justified his decision to the DPA news agency by saying that German soldiers “must not be associated at any point or place with the goals this system achieves. Not even in Germany.” Taurus is a long-range weapon, and “what the British and French are doing in target control and target control support cannot be done in Germany.”

Scholz suggests that Ukraine is unable to operate the Taurus system and the Scalp and Storm Shadow cruise missiles supplied by France and Britain without outside help. Scholz does not elaborate on what this aid actually looks like – and where it is based, but points out that France and Britain already provide it.

The second comment: Last Friday, Putin propagandist and head of Russian state broadcaster RT, Margarita Simonyan, published a recording of a confidential conversation between several senior German air force officers. It includes the phrase that Britain has “a few people on the ground” for target control and detection.

How did Britain and France respond?

Britain immediately denied: “Ukraine’s use of the Storm Shadow long-range missile system and the target selection process are the responsibility of the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” the Defense Ministry said. In terms of staff, Britain has “a small number of staff in the country. For the safety of the diplomatic staff and, among other things, for the medical training of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.”

The French Foreign Ministry in Paris also responded to Scholz’s naive words: “Regarding the German Chancellor’s statements, we would like to remind you that everyone acts within the framework they consider appropriate.”

How do German weapons experts react?

However, several weapons experts deny that the deployment of Taurus could only have taken place with German help. Frank Sauer from the Bundeswehr University in Munich told ZDF: “German soldiers or Bundeswehr technicians do not necessarily have to be on site to use the Taurus. The geodata does not necessarily have to come from Germany.”

In South Korea, Taurus cruise missiles are part of the missile defense system. They are part of the defense against North Korean nuclear missiles. Waiting for German coordinates and programming would be too slow. South Korea operates Taurus itself, according to the manufacturer this can be done after three to four months of training.

How do politicians react?

In England people are ‘not amused’. Especially about the Chancellor’s statements. Former Defense Secretary Ben Wallace called Scholz “the wrong man in the wrong job at the wrong time.” And the chairman of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Alicia Kearns, also found clear words: “Scholz must free Taurus and stop hampering European security.”

But not only is a nasty wind blowing against Scholz from the island, there is also criticism in Germany: “Our partners France and Great Britain now consider Germany unsafe because Russia is learning things it should never know,” says defense expert of the CDU. Roderich Kiesewetter the “Rheinische Post”. “I am truly stunned by the dramatic situation in Ukraine,” said the chair of the Bundestag Defense Committee, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP). Strack-Zimmermann expresses her opinion within the party. In parliament, a motion to extradite Taurus failed by 480 votes to 182. However, the motion for “large-scale arms deliveries” was approved by 382 votes to 284.