2024-03-16 07:13:40
The opposition had campaigned vehemently for it, but it was of no use. The Bundestag once again rejects the delivery of German cruise missiles to Ukraine.
On Thursday, the Bundestag rejected a request from the Union parliamentary group to supply Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. The roll-call vote was based on a recommendation from the Foreign Affairs Committee. He recommended rejecting the Union bill. The committee’s recommendation was followed by 495 MPs, and 190 MPs voted for delivery. There were also five abstentions.
The Union had previously campaigned vehemently for the deliveries in the Bundestag. You can read the Union’s application in full here. Determination and clarity are needed to support Ukraine, said deputy parliamentary group leader Johann Wadephul (CDU) in the Bundestag on Thursday.
He also rejected the position of Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), who claims to be reacting prudently with his rejection of a Taurus delivery. If there was one country that always held back towards Russia, it was Germany. Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin did not react positively once to this. “Your supposed level-headedness has only fueled Mr Putin’s aggression against Ukraine. This is the result.”
Video | This is how the high-tech weapon “Taurus” works
Brugger: “Hesitation and hesitation can also contribute to escalation in the end”
The deputy chairwoman of the Green parliamentary group, Agnieszka Brugger, announced that her group would not agree to the Union’s request for the immediate delivery of Taurus systems. At the same time, however, she supported this demand. “The most pressing question is indeed ammunition, but also long-range weapons like Taurus.” Both are needed, said the Green politician, who warned: “Hesitation and dithering can ultimately contribute to escalation.”
Brugger emphasized that the Greens would also carefully weigh up all risks. “We are all aware of the significance of this decision. And as the Greens we will not let anyone deny that, not even the Chancellor.”
“That’s why this applies”
Brugger also criticized Scholz for saying no to the federal government’s Taurus vote: “I am the Chancellor, and that’s why this applies.” Fortunately, the days of former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and his Basta policies are long gone, said the Green politician. “The suffering of the people in Ukraine is too great, the danger to our security, that of our allies and to our peace order is too high for a debate about it to simply be declared over.”
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 annexed in violation of international law in 2014, and the Russian mainland. Opponents of a delivery point to a possible escalation.