Ukraine: Taurus U-turn? Traffic light factions increase pressure on Scholz

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The traffic light factions are increasing the pressure on Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the dispute over the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. In a draft motion approved by the parliamentary group leaders, the SPD, Greens and FDP advocate “the delivery of additionally necessary long-range weapon systems”. The application is that star and is due to be put to a vote in the Bundestag this week.

The term “Taurus” is not mentioned in the paper, but even supporters of significantly greater arms deliveries were surprised by the broad wording on Monday. So far, the SPD faction in particular has been considered very cautious in the Taurus dispute. The death of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny has apparently led some to rethink things, according to the SPD faction. “It needs a signal now.”

Traffic light application calls for delivery of “additionally required long-range weapon systems”

Specifically, the application calls on the Federal Government to support Ukraine in such a way that Ukraine’s territorial integrity is restored “to the full extent” within its internationally recognized borders. “This includes the delivery of additionally necessary long-range weapon systems and ammunition in order to enable Ukraine, on the one hand, to enable targeted attacks in accordance with international law on strategically relevant targets far in the rear area of ​​the Russian aggressor and, on the other hand, to provide the land forces with the delivery of armored combat systems and protected vehicles; if they are handed over from the Bundeswehr’s stocks, immediate replacement must be initiated.”

With the motion, the parliamentary group leaders want to end a conflict that is now weighing heavily on the coalition in the background. There is growing frustration, particularly among the Greens and the FDP, about the Chancellery’s ongoing blockade on the Taurus issue. The chairwoman of the defense committee, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP), is reportedly considering submitting her own Taurus application. However, this would leave the traffic light divided on a core issue of foreign and security policy. The paper from the group leaders is now intended to prevent a dispute on an open stage.

FDP politician Strack-Zimmermann has been pushing for months for the Chancellor to give in and Germany to deliver. “This highly effective weapon system is urgently needed to weaken Russia’s supplies, but has been denied for months for reasons that are inexplicable to me,” said the FDP politician and chairwoman of the Defense Committee.

For Strack-Zimmermann, these weeks, in which she is starting her campaign as the liberal top candidate for the European elections, are not just about Ukraine. It’s about their credibility. In January, the Union parliamentary group used a vote on the annual report of the military commissioner to set a parliamentary trap for Strack-Zimmermann. The CDU and CSU submitted a motion that also called for Taurus deliveries. Strack-Zimmermann voted against this opposition motion. Which is entirely justifiable as a member of a government faction, but it earned her a lot of criticism on social networks.

The FDP politician made a statement and promised: “An application from the traffic light parties must and will be submitted by February at the latest, which includes the delivery of Taurus and further support for Ukraine. No ifs or buts.” Since then, Strack-Zimmermann has continued to put pressure on her – and even symbolically reinforced her promise again at the weekend. At the Munich Security Conference she posed for a photo wearing a T-shirt. It reads: “Taurus for Ukraine”. And: “Together until victory.”

But would a possible pro-Taurus proposal from Strack-Zimmermann actually be supported by the majority? There are not many public supporters of the delivery of the cruise missile in the Chancellor’s SPD party; a large majority of the group is skeptical about such a scenario. One of the few exceptions is SPD defense expert Andreas Schwarz. He has long been in favor of delivering German Taurus to Ukraine.

“The security conference and the signals from Ukraine show that a delivery of Taurus is necessary,” said the SPD member of the Bundestag star. As long as the ammunition issue for Ukraine is not sufficiently clarified, the discussion about the cruise missile will continue to become important. “Russia has huge stocks and is inflicting heavy losses on the Ukrainian army,” said Schwarz. “Taurus helps Ukraine with its military objectives of destroying Russia’s supply of ammunition and strategic military facilities.”