In the debate about the delivery of cruise missiles to Ukraine, the differences of opinion in the traffic light coalition are becoming clearer. After Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock described a so-called ring swap, in which Germany could give Taurus cruise missiles to Great Britain and London would give additional Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine, as an “option”, SPD leader Lars Klingbeil rejected this.
In the ARD “Morgenmagazin” he also defended Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s no to Taurus deliveries to Ukraine and demanded that European partners should concentrate on finally producing and delivering more ammunition. Klingbeil said: “This is what everyone should focus on and not other debates.”
Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit simply said on the question of ring exchange: “There is no new status.” Scholz made a decision about the Taurus. The Chancellor rejects the delivery of German cruise missiles with a range of 500 kilometers to Ukraine because he fears that their use could ultimately drag Germany into the war. Last week he said of his rejection: “I am the Chancellor and that’s why it applies.”
Baerbock open to exchanging rings
The Union also wants to talk to the government about the arguments that oppose a Taurus delivery. The evening before, Baerbock appeared open to the suggestion of her British colleague David Cameron on the ARD program “Caren Miosga” to provide Ukraine with new cruise missiles through a ring exchange. “That would be an option,” said the Green politician. At the same time, she made it clear that she would also support Taurus deliveries to Ukraine.
Scholz rejects the delivery of German cruise missiles with a range of 500 kilometers to Ukraine because he fears that their use could ultimately drag Germany into the war. Last week he said of his rejection: “I am the Chancellor and that’s why it applies.”
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg referred to Ukraine’s right to self-defense. “We must remember what is happening here: This is a war of aggression by Russia against Ukraine, and Ukraine has the right to self-defense enshrined in the United Nations Charter,” Stoltenberg said on the sidelines of a ceremony marking Sweden’s admission to NATO. This means that NATO states have the right to help Ukraine protect its right to self-defense.
Merz is skeptical about ring exchanges
CDU leader Friedrich Merz is skeptical about the option of a Taurus ring exchange for Ukraine, but is fundamentally open to it. “That may be the second best solution to achieve the goal – that’s not particularly honorable,” said Merz after a meeting of the presidiums of the CDU and CSU in Berlin. For him, the option of exchanging rings seems “a bit” like saying, “Wash my fur, but don’t get me wet.”
CDU foreign expert Norbert Röttgen and Green Party politician Anton Hofreiter together heavily criticized Scholz. In a guest article for the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” they accused the SPD politician of “catastrophic defeatism” and “dramatically poor communication”. With a view to Scholz’s arguments against a Taurus delivery, they criticized the Chancellor for spreading fear and terror among the population. Scholz’s claim that Taurus deliveries are turning Germany into a warring party is “factually and legally wrong.” This also snubs France and Great Britain, who have already delivered.
The Union wants to submit another proposal for a vote in the Bundestag on Thursday to supply Ukraine with the Taurus system. There are signs that the Union proposal could also be supported by individual members of the FDP and Greens. Strack-Zimmermann indicated his distance from the Union’s actions. The Bundestag can vote every week, she said. But one must be careful that the issue, which is important for Ukraine, “does not degenerate into a farce.”
Dürr: The Union’s proposal is “purely symbolic politics”
In this context, FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr reminded the liberal Bundestag members of a principle from the traffic light coalition agreement. “There are no changing majorities within a coalition,” he told the news portal “t-online”. He described the Union’s proposal as “purely symbolic politics”, because the federal government, not parliament, decides on arms deliveries. The coalition agreement between the SPD, the Greens and the FDP states on the subject of voting behavior: “In the German Bundestag and in all the committees it appoints, the coalition factions vote uniformly. This also applies to questions that are not the subject of the agreed policy. Changing majorities are excluded. “
Green Party co-leader Omid Nouripour sees a ring exchange with the Taurus cruise missile as a way to further support Ukraine. This could be “an option for how we can cut the knot,” he said. This possibility must now be examined urgently, said Nouripour.
A possible escalation of the conflict is a consideration for the federal government when making decisions about support for Ukraine. “And you have to take these concerns very, very seriously,” explained Nouripour. But: “We Greens believe that, especially in the current situation, Ukraine needs weapons systems that reach the entire national territory, including cruise missiles.” However, there is no agreement within the federal government on this matter. “And that’s why we now have to look at how we can help with other means.”
