The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the largest faction within the Bundestag, has rebuffed the Green Party’s renewed calls for the provision of Taurus long-range missiles to Ukraine. Jürgen Hardt, the CDU’s spokesperson for foreign policy, dismissed the Green’s demands as a “calibration debate” that risked compromising strategic security. He emphasized that decisions regarding military aid to Ukraine should remain confidential, arguing such information should not be provided to Russia’s President Putin.
The dispute highlights a deepening rift within the German parliament regarding the scope and transparency of military support for Ukraine. While the CDU prioritizes maintaining operational secrecy and fostering a robust Ukrainian defense industry capable of self-sufficiency, the Greens are advocating for a more assertive stance.
Siemtie Möller, Vice-Faction Leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), signaled support for the government’s current policy of withholding detailed information about arms deliveries, stating the decision regarding Taurus missiles remains solely within the executive’s purview.
Green Party parliamentary group deputy leader Agnieszka Brugger defended her party’s consistent push for Taurus deliveries, arguing that the Greens carefully consider the risks associated with action versus inaction. She sharply criticized the CDU’s stance, suggesting that opposition leader Friedrich Merz is attempting to emulate former Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s cautious approach, while simultaneously failing to fully leverage Ukrainian production capabilities for air defense and drone technology. Brugger characterized this inaction as a critical failure, jeopardizing both Ukrainian security and Germany’s own.
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) echoed the CDU’s resistance, with Markus Frohnmaier accusing Merz of surreptitiously adopting the AfD’s position on Taurus deliveries following the recent election.
Ulrich Thoden, the Left Party’s defense policy spokesperson, reiterated his party’s long-held opposition to supplying Ukraine with long-range missiles. Thoden warned that such weapons would escalate the conflict without significantly altering the military balance and could undermine international diplomatic efforts to establish a peace plan. He argued the risks to broader European security outweigh any potential military advantage gained by Ukraine.
The diverging perspectives underscore the complex political calculations involved in providing military assistance to Ukraine, reflecting broader disagreements over the potential for escalation, the role of Germany within the conflict and the delicate balance between supporting Ukraine’s defense and safeguarding Europe’s own security interests.
