The wiretapping scandal: It's time for Scholz to shed his naivety and authorise TAURUS missile delivery to Ukraine
Russia has long considered Germany an enemy, says Straka-Zimmerman
In the scandal surrounding the wiretapping of Bundeswehr officers about the possible consequences of supplying Ukraine with long-range TAURUS missiles, Free Democratic Party expert Maria-Agnes Strach-Zimmermann called on the Military Counterintelligence Service to investigate the incident as soon as possible.
"The intention behind the wiretap being made public right now is clear: Russia wants to prevent the delivery of TAURUS missiles to Ukraine by any means necessary," she said in an interview with the Rheinische Post, excerpted by AFP.
"Scholz is obviously being scared away from the decision to give the green light for the delivery, because Russia is afraid of TAURUS, knowing how effective they are. TAURUS should definitely be delivered. I hope that the Federal Chancellor and his advisers now understand that it is finally time to shed their naivety. Russia has long considered Germany an enemy," said Strach-Zimmermann.
For his part, Alexander Dobrindt, head of the CSU's state group in the Bundestag, called on Olaf Scholz to provide clarification.
"The reports of wiretapping are striking for two reasons: on the one hand, the Russians are apparently listening in on security talks, and on the other hand, the Federal Chancellor may be justifying his refusal to deliver TAURUS with false arguments. The chancellor must give an explanation to the Bundestag, and in such a situation, the establishment of an investigative commission should not be ruled out," he said in an interview with Der Spiegel.
On 1 March, a 38-minute recording of a conversation between four Bundeswehr officers was circulated in the media, during which they discussed the possible consequences of supplying Ukraine with TAURUS missiles and strikes on the Crimean bridge.
Ukraine has been pushing Germany to supply TAURUS for many months, but Olaf Scholz has ruled it out despite criticism from his own coalition partners.
Scholz justifies his refusal by fearing that Germany will eventually be drawn into the war in Ukraine, as he claims that TAURUS maintenance will require direct involvement of the German military.
At the same time, many experts point to the absence of such automaticity, as Ukrainian soldiers, in their opinion, are capable of maintaining and programming the missiles themselves.
Background. Germany is reportedly worried about Russia's interception of a conversation between Bundeswehr officers about TAURUS missiles. If the interception of a conversation about possible TAURUS strikes on the Crimean bridge is confirmed, it will be "very problematic".
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