In view of the Russian wiretapping operation against Air Force officers, Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser underlined the preparedness of German secret services to defend themselves. “Putin’s propaganda apparatus wants to discredit our state, manipulate opinion formation and divide our society,” the SPD politician told the newspapers of the Funke media group. “Putin will not succeed in all of this,” she added, referring to the Russian president.
“We have further increased our protective measures against espionage and disinformation and are continually responding to current developments.” Counter-espionage at the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution has been significantly strengthened in terms of personnel and technology. Combating the activities of the Russian intelligence services remains a key focus of counterintelligence.
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 Taurus, if it were still delivered to Ukraine. The recording also shows that there is no political green light for the delivery of the cruise missiles demanded by Kiev. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) justified his rejection by saying that Germany could then be drawn into the war. Taurus has a range of 500 kilometers and can therefore also hit targets in Moscow from Ukraine.
Next Monday, the Bundestag’s Defense Committee is expected to address the wiretapping affair in a special meeting. “By then we will have more information,” said committee chairwoman Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann Rhenish Post. “We will discuss the extent to which our institutions are prepared for a hybrid attack,” said the FDP politician. “Otherwise, I urgently expect the opposition to deal with this situation with all seriousness, but also with confidence. Putin only wants one thing, that we now attack each other,” warned Strack-Zimmermann.
Unlike the Chancellor, the FDP and the Greens are in favor of supplying this weapon system, as is the Union. In February, Strack-Zimmermann was the only member of her group to approve a Union motion that contained this demand. Bundestag Vice President Wolfgang Kubicki (FDP) expects more FDP votes if there is a new vote in the Bundestag.
“I am sure that the Union will submit a motion again next week and I am also sure that this time more MPs will vote for it, Taurus to Ukraine,” Kubicki told the Munich Mercury. “Last time, at least a dozen other colleagues I know would have loved to have agreed to the Union motion, but they submitted to coalition discipline. I was also close to doing so. This time I would have reached the point of doing it,” Kubicki said.