Chancellor Scholz Affirms Germany Will Not Send Taurus Cruise Missiles To Ukraine

JAKARTA - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reiterated his opposition to Taurus' long-range cruise missile shipments to Ukraine, amid the current war.

Chancellor Scholz has faced sharp criticism from conservative opposition and other parties for his refusal to deliver missiles to Ukraine, despite repeated requests from Kyiv.

In a debate at the lower house of the German Parliament, the Bundestag, Chancellor Scholz reiterated his refusal, fearing the shipment could draw Germany into conflict with Russia.

" prudence is not something that can be classified as a weakness, as some say, but caution is the right of citizens of this country," Chancellor Scholz said, quoted by the Daily Sabah March 14.

He further said supplying the Taurus missiles to Ukrainian troops would also require the involvement of the German army to assist in targeting and other tasks. However, opposition politicians, even some members of Chancellor Scholz's three-party coalition, questioned the claim.

"It is impossible for me to supply a broad weapon system that can only be supplied plausibly if they also involve German soldiers, even outside Ukraine," Chancellor Scholz said.

"That's a line I don't want to cross as a chancellor," he said,

Earlier, the positioning CDU/CSU bloc had threatened Chancellor Scholz with a parliamentary investigation into his public statement regarding Ukraine's use of the Taurus missile would require the involvement of German troops.

In Wednesday's debate, CDU politician Norbert R\"ottgen sharply pressured Chancellor Scholz on whether France and Britain, which have supplied Ukraine with long-range cruise missiles SCALP and Storm Shadow, have crossed the red line referred to by Chancellor Scholz and are on the side of the war.

"You intend to deceive the public into this, European and national security issues," R\"ottgen told Chancellor Scholz.

However, Chancellor Scholz responded by accusing R\"ottgen "half-hearted" and implying R\"ottgen was aware of classified information that would complicate his allegations, a charge R\"ottgen denies.

Chancellor Scholz reiterated earlier statements about why Germany was unable to deliver the Taurus cruise missile: "The way it is done in France and Britain is impossible for us."

Separately, the CDU/CSU coalition in parliament plans to impose a vote this Thursday on a resolution demanding Chancellor Scholz's Government to deliver the Taurus missile to Ukraine.