Berlin: Germany’s Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, has once again rejected the proposal to send Taurus missiles to aid Ukraine in repelling Russia’s ongoing invasion.
The opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) had pushed for the deployment of the long-range weapon system amid Russia’s incremental advances on the frontline.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized that deploying the missiles would necessitate the involvement of Germany’s military, the Bundeswehr, potentially entangling the country in the conflict against Russia.
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How the Vote Unfolded
Out of the 690 participating lawmakers, 495 voted against the delivery, while 190 were in favor, with 5 abstentions.
While Scholz’s Social Democrats have opposed the delivery, some within the ruling coalition, notably from the Green Party and the business-focused Free Democrats, have expressed support. Conversely, the far-right AFD and the socialist Left Party aligned with the SPD in rejecting the motion.
The conservative CDU/CSU bloc had previously proposed a similar motion in February, which was defeated, with the government arguing against it.
Insights into Taurus Missiles
The Taurus KEPD-350 missile stands as one of the Bundeswehr’s cutting-edge weapon systems.
Fired from aircraft, this missile travels at nearly the speed of sound, reaching targets up to 500 kilometers (310 miles) away.
Operating at a low altitude of just 35 meters, it evades radar detection and continuously adjusts its position. Taurus targets high-value objectives like bunkers or command posts.
Before detonating its warhead, it breaches bunker walls, penetrating multiple layers of concrete.
Though Ukraine possesses similar systems with shorter ranges, Taurus could be employed to strike deep into Russian-held territory, disrupting supply lines and command centers, or targeting sites in occupied Crimea.
Political Hesitations
German authorities have hesitated to supply Ukraine with weapons capable of striking Russian territory, fearing escalation.
Moscow has consistently cautioned against supplying weapons like Taurus or the US ATACMS to Ukraine, citing potential provocations.
