Schröder backs Scholz to withhold Taurus to Ukraine
Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder has voiced support for Chancellor Olaf Scholz's refusal to supply Ukraine with long-range air-launched cruise missiles Taurus, DW reported on March 18.
"I believe Olaf Scholz is doing what I would expect from the Chancellor of Germany at this moment," Schröder said.
When asked if he views Scholz as a "chancellor of peace," Schröder said, "Yes, I would."
"If someone as Chancellor of Germany aspires to peace, if someone is called a 'chancellor of peace,' is that bad?" he said.
Schröder chaired the board of directors of Rosneft from 2007 until May 2022. Despite criticism for his ties to Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin, even from within his own Social Democratic Party, Schröder remains a member.
Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Schröder defended his proximity to Russia and continued engagement with Putin, even traveling to Moscow for a meeting in August 2022. He attributed Russia's attack on Ukraine to a "political failure," expressing disbelief in the possibility of invasion and asserting that NATO should prevent Ukraine's membership in the near future.
Ukraine has requested long-range weaponry from its partners to target objectives deep within Russia-occupied territory. While some countries, such as the UK with Storm Shadow cruise missiles and France with SCALP missiles, have already supplied such arms, Germany, possessing around 600 Taurus cruise missiles, has delayed action.
Berlin has not outright denied Ukraine the Taurus missiles but has not been ready to provide them, possibly due to Scholz’s hesitations, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in September 2023.
Ukraine has repeatedly stated that it will not use Western long-range missiles to strike Russian territory.
The Bundestag did not support a draft resolution calling for the supply of long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine on Jan. 17, with only 178 out of 666 MPs voting in favor.
On Feb. 5, Christian Freuding, head of the Special Staff for Ukraine at the German Ministry of Defense, said that long-range Taurus missiles cannot turn the tide of war in favor of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Read also: Scholz opposes circular missile exchange with UK, which would allow transfer of Taurus to Ukraine
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said on March 9 in an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung that the country was ready to consider all options, including an exchange in which Germany would provide Britain with Taurus missiles and the United Kingdom, for its part, would supply Ukraine with more Storm Shadow missiles.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said that she was open to Cameron’s proposal for a circular exchange.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius was, however, skeptical of the idea of a circular exchange of British Storm Shadow missiles for German Taurus missiles, and Scholz also rejected the idea.
Russians leaked a conversation in March among German top generals discussing a potential Ukrainian strike with Taurus missiles on the Crimean Bridge, illegally built by Russia. This became one of the most discussed topics in Germany for some time.
We’re bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!
Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
