Pistorius warned German politicians not to make the mistake of falling for Russian President Vladimir Putin. “This is part of Putin's information war.” The minister responded to statements by the opposition Union that questioned the credibility of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD): President Taurus may have justified his rejection of the deliveries. A misinterpretation is justified,” said CSU regional committee head Alexander Dobrindt to “Spiegel”.
He and other Union politicians demanded that Scholz “explain himself to the Bundestag”. The inquiry committee also cannot be “dismissed”. Union Parliamentary Secretary Thorsten Frei from the CDU told “Welt” that the union has requested a special meeting of the Security Council and that Scholz be present in person.
Scholz promises radical clarification
Scholz spoke on Saturday of a “very serious matter” that is being “clarified now very carefully, very seriously and very quickly.” The Military Counter Intelligence Service (MAD) launched an investigation. Pistorius warned on Sunday to wait for the results of the investigation. It is now about content and regulatory outcomes; The defense minister said the personnel ramifications would be “certainly very high”. Disciplinary consequences may result if those involved are found to have acted improperly.
Pistorius v. U-Committee
Pistorius was wary of setting up a commission of inquiry. The question arises as to whether this process justifies the commission of inquiry, with all its domestic political implications, and all that is subsequently debated publicly. But the minister said he was confident that the Bundestag would handle the issue responsibly.
On Friday, a Russian state broadcaster released a recording of a conversation via Webex between four German Bundeswehr officers about the possible use of Taurus cruise missiles by the Ukrainian armed forces. It concerns the use of German Taurus missiles with a range of up to 500 kilometers, which Ukraine has been demanding for months.
Among other things, it is being discussed whether the Kerch bridge connecting the Crimean peninsula to the Russian mainland will be attacked, and whether the Ukrainian armed forces can operate the weapon system without the participation of the German Bundeswehr.
Sholes continues against Taurus bowling
Despite the criticism, Scholz has ruled out offering the Taurus weapons system from its alliance partners. He justifies his refusal by saying that Germany could be drawn into the Ukraine war, which would even lead to the direct involvement of the German military. Representatives of coalition partners the Greens and FDP and opposition Union parties rejected these arguments and openly advocated Taurus deliveries to Ukraine.
The government in Moscow demanded “reports from Germany” on Saturday. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev wrote on the Telegram online service on Sunday that it was “malicious lies” to try to portray Bundeswehr officials' talks as mere mind games about missiles and tanks. The Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council added: “Germany is preparing for war with Russia.”
