Moscow: The Kremlin asserted on Monday that leaked discussions among German officials regarding potential strikes on Crimea provided evidence of Western nations’ involvement in the Ukrainian conflict.
This revelation proved to be an embarrassment for Berlin, which faces mounting pressure to provide Taurus missiles to Kyiv amid its struggles with ammunition shortages.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov remarked, “These leaked conversations once again highlight the direct involvement of the collective West in the conflict in Ukraine.”
The leaked conversations, totaling 38 minutes, surfaced late on Friday on Russian social media platforms. German officers were overheard discussing the potential use of German-made Taurus missiles and their potential targets.
Among the topics discussed were potential strikes on significant landmarks, such as a key bridge over the Kerch Strait, linking the Russian mainland to Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.
Germany acknowledged that the recording likely featured an “intercepted” conversation within the air force division but couldn’t confirm if it had been tampered with.
In response to the leak, Peskov stated, “The recording, in itself, suggests that the Bundeswehr is discussing substantive and specific plans to strike Russian territory.”
This statement coincided with the summoning of the German ambassador to Russia by the Russian foreign ministry in Moscow. Ambassador Alexander Graf Lambsdorff left the ministry without providing any comment, according to Russian news agencies.
The preceding day, Germany accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of attempting to sow disunity through the leak. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius remarked, “It is about using this recording to destabilize and unsettle us,” expressing hope that Putin’s efforts would not succeed.
Pistorius indicated that he was awaiting the outcome of a military probe into the leak before drawing conclusions. Kyiv has persistently urged Germany to provide Taurus missiles, which can target locations up to 500 kilometers away, to aid in its defense against Russian aggression.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has thus far refrained from supplying the missiles, expressing concerns about escalating tensions with nuclear-armed Russia.
As Ukraine faces its third year of conflict with Russia, its pleas for military assistance from allies have intensified. France and Britain have provided SCALP or Storm Shadow missiles, each with a range of about 250 kilometers.
However, Scholz maintained that Germany could not justify matching the actions of Britain and France by sending long-range missiles to Ukraine and supporting their deployment.
Nevertheless, a portion of the leaked conversation seemed to challenge Scholz’s rationale for withholding the missiles from Kyiv.
The acquisition of Taurus missiles would significantly bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities as it contends with Russia’s renewed aggression.
Amid calls for clarity regarding the wiretap, Pistorius cautioned against falling victim to Putin’s “information war,” emphasizing the need to remain vigilant against manipulative narratives.
