The UK is asking Germany to give long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, even though there was a leak of a secret call involving German air force officers talking about UK troops in Ukraine.
The leaked call was shared by Russian television, and the Kremlin tried to use it to pressure the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz. However, instead of criticizing Germany for the leak, the UK is focusing on urging Germany to provide the missiles.
The Taurus missiles have a longer range (300 miles) compared to the Storm Shadow/Scalp system already given to Ukraine. The UK, the first country to provide long-range precision strike missiles to Ukraine, encourages allies to do the same. A Downing Street spokesperson mentioned that a small number of British troops in Ukraine had been acknowledged a week earlier.
The leaked conversation involved German Luftwaffe officers discussing the UK’s military presence in Ukraine and helping Ukraine choose Russian targets. Despite the leak, former Ministry of Defence insiders believe it is not significant and may even highlight the effectiveness of the Taurus missiles.
The Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov sees the leaked conversations as evidence of the West’s direct involvement in the Ukraine conflict. Former Russian president Dmitri Medvedev suggested that Germany was preparing for war with Russia.
Despite the leak, Chancellor Scholz insists he won’t change his mind about providing Taurus missiles to Ukraine. He expressed concerns that Ukraine could potentially use these weapons against Russia. Scholz emphasized that German soldiers’ direct involvement in firing the missiles is out of the question.
The leaked conversation, led by Lt Gen Ingo Gerhartz, head of the Luftwaffe, discussed the chancellor’s refusal to donate the weapons and possible ways to get around it. They also discussed Taurus training for Ukrainian soldiers and potential targets, including the strategic Kerch bridge.
Downing Street was confirmed by ‘fewer military personnel’ in Ukraine but did not disclose all their tasks due to concerns about the escalation with Moscow. The German officers in the leaked call concluded that using the missiles would only be possible with German soldiers involved, and Taurus training for Ukrainian soldiers would take months.
The discussion also included potential targets for the Taurus missiles, such as a bridge in the east, likely referring to the Kerch bridge. The officers believed blowing up the bridge would be technically feasible but might require 10 to 20 missiles, with Germany capable of donating a maximum of 100.
After the leak, there are signs of divisions within Germany. The foreign minister expressed support for giving Taurus missiles to Ukraine, emphasizing the need to defend and protect Ukraine within the bounds of international law. However, some experts believe the public reaction to the leaked conversation may prevent the delivery of Taurus missiles to Ukraine.