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Discussions of using Taurus missiles don’t mean Ukraine will get them — Pistorius

"Neither I nor the chancellor have given the green light for the use of Taurus," the German defense minister said

© Maxim Grigoryev/TASS

BERLIN, March 4. /TASS/. While German military officers discussed various scenarios to use Taurus missiles, it does not mean a green light to supply the weapons to Ukraine, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in comments on a recent leak of such discussions.

"I think the officers did what they are there for. They are thinking through different scenarios without planning anything in any way and leaving no doubt about it," Pistorius told reporters. "Neither I nor the chancellor have given the green light for the use of Taurus."

The officers contemplated what scenarios were possible in general.

"That is their job as leaders," the minister stated.

According to Pistorius, the Bundeswehr officers didn’t discuss specific plans but talked about hypothetical options, keeping in mind that Germany should not become part of the conflict in Ukraine.

"It was clear to the officers at all times during the call that the line of participation in the war, and there are various forms of this, would not be crossed," Pistorius stated.

Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of the RT broadcaster, said on March 1 that on the very day when German Chancellor Olaf Scholz vowed that NATO was not participating and would not participate in the Ukrainian conflict, high-ranking German officers were discussing the possibility of attacking the Crimean Bridge in a way that would not bring consequences for Germany. Simonyan published an audio recording of the discussions, which happened in a call between the officers. In the call, the officers talked about how much destruction Germany’s Taurus long-range missiles could cause to the Crimean Bridge as well as details of how to prepare such an attack.

On Saturday, the German defense ministry confirmed the call had been wiretapped. Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged a prompt investigation into the situation.

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