2024-03-19 00:08:24
The Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, does not believe that a public discussion about weapons systems is helpful. There shouldn’t be a trust problem.
In the discussion about a possible delivery of the Taurus cruise missile to Ukraine, the Ukrainian ambassador in Berlin, Oleksii Makeiev, made critical comments. In an interview with the broadcaster ntv, Makeiev criticized the fact that the debate was being conducted publicly. “Substantive discussions about various weapon systems are best conducted behind closed doors,” the broadcaster quoted the ambassador as saying.
He cited previous deliveries as an example. “There were long discussions about the MARS rocket launcher and the self-propelled howitzer 2000, but not in public. Both were delivered,” said the ambassador.
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Need for long-range weapon systems
Makeiev sees his country’s need for long-range systems like the Taurus because, according to him, they are “very helpful in reaching command centers, ammunition depots and supply routes far behind the front line.” But he doesn’t want to get involved in domestic political discussions.
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The Ukrainian ambassador also commented on speculation as to whether Germany’s general mistrust of Ukraine was behind the refusal to deliver the Taurus. He doesn’t believe in it and is convinced: “I can rule out that there is a general distrust of Ukraine in Germany. There is too much solidarity for that.” He also denies any mistrust on the part of the Chancellor towards Ukrainian President Zelensky and emphasizes: “We have given no reason for mistrust; we have always adhered to all agreements. All weapons will only be used as agreed.”
FDP wants to talk to Scholz about Taurus
The FDP parliamentary group is not giving up on its demand for Taurus cruise missiles to be delivered to Ukraine and is also seeking talks with Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD). “The FDP’s position is clear: We consider the delivery of Taurus to Ukraine to be necessary,” said the First Parliamentary Managing Director of the FDP parliamentary group, Johannes Vogel, to the “Tagesspiegel” (Saturday). Since the condition mentioned by Scholz for the Taurus delivery – no operation by German soldiers – can be “objectively met”, he would very much like “that the Chancellery will quickly come to a different assessment of the situation than before,” said Vogel. It is not the Bundestag that decides on the delivery of Taurus, but ultimately the government alone. “That’s why we as the FDP parliamentary group will talk to the Chancellor about the issue,” announced Vogel.
Scholz strictly rejects supplying the weapon system to Ukraine. The Union failed again in the Bundestag with its application to deliver Taurus to Ukraine. However, the FDP MPs Wolfgang Kubicki and Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann voted in favor of the CDU/CSU proposal. The SPD and the Greens voted unanimously against it. Nevertheless, there are numerous members of the FDP and Greens who are in favor of Taurus delivery.