BERLIN – German lawmakers backed providing further military support for Ukraine on Feb 22, almost two years after Russia’s invasion, but rejected a call by the opposition to deliver long-range cruise Taurus missiles to Kyiv.
Germany is the second biggest donor of military aid to Ukraine in its war with Russia, but Chancellor Olaf Scholz has resisted domestic and foreign pressure to supply the Taurus missiles, fearing an international escalation of the conflict.
“(Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s Russia is and will remain the greatest security threat to Europe for the foreseeable future,” Defence Minister Boris Pistorius told the Bundestag lower house, adding Germany would counter it “with all our strength”.
The motion put by Social Democrat Mr Scholz’s coalition, also comprising the Greens and pro-business Free Democrats (FDP), committed to supplying “additional long-range weapon systems and ammunition” but made no specific mention of Taurus.
Raising the pressure on Mr Scholz, the conservative opposition put down a motion explicitly calling for the delivery of the cruise missiles which could give Ukraine the capability to cause significant damage deeper within Russian-occupied territory.
Highlighting divisions within Mr Scholz’s awkward coalition, the FDP head of the parliamentary defence committee Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann voted for the opposition motion. REUTERS
EMEA Tribune is not involved in this news article, it is taken from our partners and or from the News Agencies. Copyright and Credit go to the News Agencies, email [email protected] Follow our WhatsApp verified Channel
