NewsGerman coalition split over Scholz's refusal to arm Ukraine
German coalition split over Scholz's refusal to arm Ukraine
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, from the liberal FDP and chair of the Bundestag's defense committee, contested Scholz's claim in media discussions that Bundeswehr soldiers would need to go to Ukraine to prepare the weapon for use. She clarified, "In this case, programming could be done in Germany, or Ukrainian soldiers could learn it here."
5:22 AM EST, February 28, 2024
Strack-Zimmermann also objected to Scholz's concerns about Ukraine reprogramming the Taurus missiles to target Russia. She believes such concerns are unfounded, citing Scholz's repeated warnings that any attack on Russian territory could inadvertently drag Germany into the conflict. "I think it's a pretext,” she commented, questioning the chancellor’s rationale.
The deputy leader of the Greens in the Bundestag, Katrin Goering-Eckardt, echoed this sentiment stating, "No one who is demanding Taurus missiles for Ukraine wants Germany to become a participant in the war,” highlighting the broader consensus on the issue.
Goering-Eckardt further argued that for the sake of peace in Europe and beyond, it's imperative Ukraine emerges victorious in this defensive conflict. She warned against the ongoing threat posed by Russian President Vladimir Putin's imperialist ambitions, which endanger not only Ukraine but also the security of Germany.
The Taurus missiles, among the most advanced weapons in the Bundeswehr's arsenal, were previously denied to Ukraine by Scholz at the start of October last year due to concerns they could be used to attack targets within Russia. Despite repeated requests from Ukraine, Berlin has yet to respond positively to these appeals.
