BERLIN, February 22. /TASS/. Germany’s Bundestag (parliament) has voted down a resolution demanding that the country supply Ukraine with Taurus cruise missiles, a TASS correspondent reported.
Thus, as many as 480 lawmakers voted against the document initiated by the faction of the opposition bloc of the Christian Democratic and Christian Social Unions (CDU/CSU). The document was supported by 182 lawmakers with five more abstaining.
The document calls on the German government to "recognize Russia as an existential threat" and toughen the anti-Russian sanctions. Apart from that, it calls on German authorities to "support Ukraine with immediate supplies" of combat systems, including Taurus missiles, as well as munitions, and "undertake leadership and coordination on this matter in Europe."
Before the voting, CDU leader Friedrich Merz called on ruling coalition lawmakers to support the resolution. "Ukraine is still not receiving enough weapons, which it badly needs," he said.
Meanwhile, the ruling coalition submitted to the Bundestag its own resolution calling for supplies of long-range weapons to Kiev, although not mentioning Taurus by name. According to experts, this trick gives Chancellor Olaf Scholz room for action on the matter of arms supplies. Scholz, however, is against sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine. Some experts say that the resolution may involve MARS II projectiles. Voting on the document will be held later on Thursday.