The issue of “Taurus” delivery to Ukraine is currently dividing German politics. Now Great Britain is discussing a ring exchange as a possible solution. But this suggestion doesn’t suit everyone either.
For months, Ukraine has been asking Germany to supply Taurus cruise missiles, but Chancellor Olaf Scholz has refused. He argues that he fears that Germany could become a warring party.
In order to counter the Chancellor’s concerns, Great Britain’s Foreign Minister David Cameron has now offered Germany support. In an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung, he discussed exchanging rings “to help Ukraine.”
In such an exchange, Germany would give “Taurus” cruise missiles to Great Britain – and London, in turn, would deliver further “Storm Shadow” missiles to Ukraine. Germany could thus indirectly support Ukraine without delivering “Taurus” cruise missiles with their long range to the war zone.
“We are prepared to look at all options to achieve the maximum effect for Ukraine,” said Cameron when asked whether a ring swap would be conceivable. But he “will not give any details and will tell our opponents what we are planning.” Cameron dismissed concerns that the delivery of cruise missiles could lead to an escalation of Russia’s war of aggression. It is “absolutely possible to impose restrictions on the use of these weapons to ensure that they do not in any way contribute to escalation.” Great Britain trusts Ukraine’s corresponding assurances.
In his rejection, the Chancellor repeatedly emphasized that the German “Taurus” with a range of 500 kilometers could also reach Moscow. However, the cruise missiles delivered by the European partners only fly 250 kilometers.
Hofreiter welcomed Exchange proposal
According to media reports, there have been considerations about a “Taurus” ring exchange for some time. The Handelsblatt wrote in January, citing diplomats and government representatives, that Great Britain had already offered such an exchange.
Green European politician Anton Hofreiter welcomes the proposal. It would be better if Scholz no longer blocked the Taurus delivery, he told the newspapers of the Funke media group, “but before Ukraine doesn’t get any more cruise missiles, exchanging rings is a possibility.” Scholz should not “stand in the way of this,” warned Hofreiter.
The Union, on the other hand, thinks little of it. Group deputy Johann Wadephul told the Rheinische Post that everything must be done to prevent a Ukrainian defeat. “This includes delivering the best system and that is the ‘Taurus’.” No exchange of rings could replace it in terms of range, precision and penetrating power.
Union puts “Taurus” delivery up for vote again
The traffic light coalition is divided in the “Taurus” debate. This is likely to become apparent next week, when the Union wants to submit another motion in the Bundestag calling on the federal government to hand over the extensive weapons system to Ukraine “immediately”.
The CDU chairman Friedrich Merz and CSU boss Markus Söder are particularly committed to this. However, there are signs that this proposal could also be supported by the FDP and the Greens. The Union had already submitted a similar motion to the Bundestag two weeks ago – but did not receive a majority for it at the time.
However, the former CDU chairman Armin Laschet now warned against overestimating the importance of the “Taurus” deliveries. “I think it is much more important that we actually deliver the weapons and ammunition we have already promised to Ukraine and more quickly,” Laschet told the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger and Focus Online. “You have to rely on that.”
On the other hand, Scholz’s cautious course in order not to become a party to the war is fundamentally “correct”. Laschet, however, saw Scholz’s serious mistake in not coordinating more closely with European partners, especially France.
SPD accusation: Union wants to split coalition
SPD parliamentary group deputy Dirk Wiese also sees support in the Union for the Chancellor’s stance. The majority of citizens support the Chancellor’s decision, he told the Rheinische Post. A point of view that also relates to the result of the most recent one ARD GermanyTrends covers. “There are also many members of the CDU and CSU, which is confirmed again and again in personal conversations in the constituency,” added Wiese. The traffic light coalition will reject the Union proposal in the Bundestag. The SPD defense politician Andreas Schwarz accused the Union in the Tagesspiegel of wanting to “use the ‘Taurus’ to destroy the coalition.”
Before the vote, Scholz will answer questions from MPs in the government survey on Wednesday. It is to be expected that this will also involve the “Taurus” deliveries. The Defense Committee will meet on Monday for a special meeting on the “Taurus” wiretapping affair. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is scheduled to speak here.