Proposal would give Kyiv long-range weapons without breaching Olaf Scholz’s fierce opposition to handing over its Taurus system
James Rothwell IN BERLIN
11 March 2024 • 5:55pm
Germany’s foreign minister has confirmed that Britain and Berlin are discussing a weapons rotation, or “Ringtausch”, which would allow more deliveries of long-range missiles to Ukraine.
Under the proposals, Storm Shadow missiles from a UK stockpile would be sent to Ukraine and then in turn replenished with Taurus missiles from a German stockpile.
Crucially, the arrangement would allow Germany to indirectly give Ukraine long-range missile support without breaking a key red line of Olaf Scholz, the chancellor, who is staunchly opposed to handing over the powerful Taurus system as he fears it would be used to strike Moscow.
Annalena Baerbock, the German foreign minister, confirmed in a television interview over the weekend that Berlin was looking at the “Ringtausch” idea as an “option,” noting that similar deals had been done before to get supplies into Ukraine.
“The Ringtausch was, so to say, a German invention. It would be an option. And we have previously done this with other material,” Ms Baerbock told ARD’s political talkshow Caren Miosga.
It comes two months after Handelsblatt, a German newspaper, reported that a Ringtausch was in the early stages of discussion between Britain and Germany, with the latter undecided on whether to proceed with it.
At the time the German government declined to comment on those reports, though Handelsblatt suggested that the idea was attractive to Mr Scholz as it avoided direct shipments of Taurus missiles to Ukraine.
Britain is already sending Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine, while France is providing Scalp missiles, but Germany continues to refuse provision of its Taurus system amid concerns it could drag Germany into the war.
Mr Scholz, who has repeatedly vowed that Germany will never be a “Kriegspartei,” or war party, is concerned about Kyiv using Taurus missiles to strike Vladimir Putin directly at the Kremlin in Moscow or the strategically important Kerch bridge.
Taurus missiles would have enough range to reach such targets, whereas Storm Shadows and Scalps have shorter range limits.
Unlike Britain and France, Germany has no nuclear weapons – though it hosts some which are under full US control – which could explain Mr Scholz’s concerns about provoking a strong response from Moscow.
Lord Cameron, the foreign secretary, also addressed the Taurus missile debate in an interview with the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung over the weekend.
He said it was “absolutely possible” for Germany to set conditions on the use of the system in Ukraine “to ensure that they do not in any way contribute to escalation”.
Lars Klingbeil, a co-leader of Mr Scholz’s SPD party, on Monday said the debate about Taurus missiles was unhelpful as Berlin was totally focused on producing and delivering more ammunition, such as artillery shells, to Ukraine. “That’s what everyone should focus on and no other debates,” he said.
If Cammers can pull this off; and it’s a big “if”, it will be a great achievement.
The UK will be able to send more Storms, which are very effective, but in short supply.
What would need to happen next would be ATACMS. But that seems impossible at the moment.
Scholz has about 500 Taurus missiles. How many would he send to the UK? Probably 100 max; enabling the UK to send a further 100 Storms.
But Ukraine really needs 2000 long range fires to really hammer the invader scum. Plus at least 10 squadrons of F16’s, more HIMARS, more artillery and much more ammo.
Does anyone know why Tomahawks have not been discussed? There is a SSM variant available.
Sweden presumably has Taurus? Have they been tapped?
France have overtaken russia and moved into 2nd place as the country exporting most weapons, yet Ukraine are short of weapons. Can the EU not come up with their own version of lend lease? The weapons are there, but unfortunately, not the will.
Ukraine at the moment is overwhelmed with priorities; all demanding equal attention. They can’t plan a big counteroffensive without a reliable and plentiful supply of materiel.
They have no alternative at the moment but to go on the defence to prevent the dreaded putler breakthrough.
Last year’s counteroffensive failed because to their eternal shame, the allies delivered only 20% of what Zaluzhnyi requested. Now to his eternal shame, Trumpkov succeeded in ending US support for Ukraine, thus acting as a murderer by proxy.
The UK as a Budapest signatory must now at least match Germany in terms of military aid. Problem is an election is coming; likely sooner than the US.
In the at present sadly unlikely event of a Tory win, I would expect a significant increase in UK Aid.
Poland has become a schizophrenic ally; going
from rock solid to unreliable in a short space of time; likely due to putinaZi interference.
So that leaves the UK, Germany, France and the Scandies to take up all the slack, which they are very far from at present.
Another imponderable: could reliable Holland go rogue? Wilders is Orban Mk 2.
Well, ok, Scradge, but the UK has a smaller economy than Germany, so they probably won’t match the military aid. It would be reasonable for all major EU countries to donate about the same share of their GDP, though. This should include Italy (why no additional Samp/T system yet?) and Spain (what the hell are they doing there with all those inoperative Leo 2s?).
As for the politics involved – I didn’t pay much attention to The Independent recently, please update me: What’s the stance of Labour towards help for Ukraine, what did Starmer say about that? Would an election this year lead to serious changes? 🤔
Starmer has met Zel and is pro-Ukraine. However, he has a tankie faction: the far left analogue of the magaputler shitheads and they will be noisy fuckers. I don’t think they can subvert democracy like the magaputlers though.
I would not want to have to rely on Starmer for anything.
Except Labour tax, spend and “invest” in the two huge Ponzi schemes: NHS and the socialist welfare state.
Sweden needs all the arms they have, Germany doesn’t.
I just rechecked the map: Nope, Sweden doesn’t have a frontier with Russia, neither. No direct risk of an invasion.
🤨
Kaliningrad, your former pruSSian shithole for a start.
There is no way the Russians can pull that off.
^bert
Yeah, the leaked Bundeswehr meeting call showed that the number of 100 missiles is seen as the maximum that can be spared. That’s probably because only 150 are operational right now, as previous reports stated. If the Uk would exchange them for Storm Shadows, that’s at least somewhat helpful for Ukraine. I’m fuming, though, that Scholz’ stubborness leads to this kabuki theatre instead of a direct donation. That’s so embarassing. 😖
Storm Shadows is even better, as Taurus requires training and yet another modification of the Su-24.
^bert
Ok, that’s a point, Bert. What’s missing, then, is the bunker busting capability and the longer range, though. 😕
What would be funny is that the swap takes place and that the UK sends Taurus anyway
^bert
“Proposal would give Kyiv long-range weapons without breaching Olaf Scholz’s fierce opposition to handing over its Taurus system”
Scholz has a fierce cowardice over sending these missiles.
I would love to see his face if the UK send these Taurus to Ukraine instead of the Storm Shadow.
Of course, even this dork knows why the Brits want the Tauruses. 😉
German rules: Opposition is in favor, the government rejects. Once the opposition is elected, they oppose while the former government is in favor. 😎
That’s the German government in a nutshell! 🙈🙉🙊
This is embarassing. All that brouhaha just for taking care of Olaf Scholz’ irrational fears? That’s nuts and making our country a laughingstock in the world! Enough already with this nonsense, if Scholz doesn’t have the nerves for the job, he should resign! 😠
I support the opposition, except for their stone-age position on Cannabis. Better deport all foreigners guilty of violent/sexual crimes!
I agree on that, Mike. Immigration is a hot topic in Germany, too, and the ubertolerant progressive attitude towards it has no majority anymore. The experiences since 2015 haven’t been so positive. ☹