NEW DELHI:
Germany
has accused Russian President Vladimir
Putin
of attempting to create division by
leaking
a
confidential
German
army
discussion on the Ukraine war. The leak, which involved a 38-minute recording of the talks, was posted online on Russian social media.
The discussion focused on the potential use of German-made Taurus missiles and their impact, as well as the use of long-range missiles provided to Kyiv by France and Britain.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius described the leak as an attempt to destabilize and unsettle Germany, referring to it as part of an information war carried out by Putin.
Pistorius expressed hope that Putin's efforts would not succeed. He also mentioned that he was unaware of any further leaks within the army and stated that he would await the outcome of a military investigation before deciding on any consequences. Kyiv has been requesting Germany to supply Taurus missiles, which have a range of up to 500 kilometers, to support its defense against Russia's invasion.
However, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has refrained from sending the missiles, fearing an escalation of the conflict with Russia. France and Britain have already provided Kyiv with SCALP and Storm Shadow missiles, respectively, which have a range of about 250 kilometers. Scholz explained that Germany could not justify matching the British and French actions due to the different capabilities of the weapon systems.
The acquisition of German Taurus missiles would significantly bolster Ukraine's defense capabilities. Meanwhile, Britain denied any direct involvement in operating the missiles, stating that the use and targeting processes of Storm Shadow missiles are solely the responsibility of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
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