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Taurus supplies to Ukraine to escalate conflict — Bundestag member

"We need peace talks, we need a ceasefire, and we need a security architecture that will ensure peace, not an arms build-up," Klaus Ernst said

BERLIN, February 22. /TASS/. Germany's supplies of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine would only lead to an escalation of the conflict and worsen the security situation in Europe, Bundestag member from the Sarah Wagenknecht Alliance party Klaus Ernst, has told parliament.

"This [Taurus supplies] will exacerbate [the conflict], make the situation in Europe more dangerous and draw us further into this war," he warned. "We need peace talks, we need a ceasefire, and we need a security architecture that will ensure peace, not an arms build-up," Ernst said.

Earlier on Thursday, the Bundestag voted against a resolution proposed by a faction of the opposition Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) bloc saying that Ukraine should be supplied with Taurus cruise missiles.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has so far been reticent to respond to Ukraine’s demands for these missiles. Last October he preferred not to do so for the time being. He has repeatedly stated that all arms deliveries were being coordinated with partners, including those across the Atlantic. He noted that the providing Ukraine with air defense equipment and artillery ammunition remained Germany’s priority.

About 600 such missiles were purchased for the Bundeswehr 10 years ago. Taurus is considered to be a twin of Britain’s Storm Shadow missiles, some of which have already been provided to Ukraine. However, the range of the German-Swedish missile is slightly greater, up to 500 kilometers.

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Ukraine crisis Germany

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