Union request
Bundestag again rejects Taurus delivery to Ukraine
Highly controversial: the Bundestag is debating Taurus delivery to Ukraine
© Britta Pedersen / DPA
Is Germany supplying Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine or not? The Union is in favor – but fails for the second time because of the other parliamentary groups.
The Union is again in the Bundestag with its application for the delivery of German Taurus cruise missiles to the Ukraine failed. A majority of MPs voted against the CDU and CSU initiative on Thursday. In the debate, SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich defended Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s (SPD) no to a delivery. “Turning times are not for political players. What is needed is intelligence, prudence and clarity. And that is what the Chancellor does in the consideration that he has as head of government,” said Mützenich.
Large majority against Taurus delivery
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 members.
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 incorporated in violation of international law in 2014, and the Russian mainland. Opponents of a delivery point to a possible escalation.
Union accuses SPD of hesitancy
The Union, on the other hand, campaigned vehemently in the Bundestag on Thursday to help Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia, with the delivery of cruise missiles. Determination and clarity are needed to support Ukraine, said deputy parliamentary group leader Johann Wadephul (CDU). He said to the SPD: “Your supposed level-headedness has only fueled Mr Putin’s aggression against Ukraine. This is the result.”
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The deputy chairwoman of the Green parliamentary group, Agnieszka Brugger, announced that her group would not agree to the Union’s request. At the same time, however, she supported this demand. There have been many supporters of delivery for months, especially among the FDP and the Greens. The Chancellor, however, argued that the use of cruise missiles would only be possible with the participation of German soldiers. However, this would increase the risk that Germany would be drawn into the Ukraine war. There was also rejection from the AfD and the Left.