Russian media published an internal conversation between German air force officers, thereby embarrassing the Bundeswehr and the federal government. There is now great concern in Germany that further security-relevant communications from German authorities may have been intercepted. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) speaks of a “very serious matter. That is why it is now being clarified very carefully, very intensively and very quickly.”
The recorded conversation was published on Friday. It discussed operational scenarios for the German cruise missile “Taurus” – the cruise missile that Ukraine is demanding delivery of. Scholz does not want to provide this because he fears that Germany could be drawn into the war.
In the switching conference, four officers, including Air Force Chief Ingo Gerhartz, discuss operational scenarios in preparation for a conversation with Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD). They come to the conclusion that rapid delivery and rapid deployment would only be possible with the participation of German soldiers – and that Taurus training of Ukrainian soldiers for a mission under their own direction would be possible, but would take months. The possible destruction of the bridge built by Russia to the occupied Crimean peninsula is also being discussed.
The Bundestag’s defense commissioner, Eva Högl (SPD), called for stronger security precautions and greater investments in counter-espionage.
The CDU/CSU Union parties immediately requested a special meeting of the Defense Committee. She reads from the conversation that it would not be technically necessary for German soldiers to participate in a Taurus mission in Ukraine. It “must be clarified why the Chancellor goes public with false claims when he says that German Bundeswehr participation on site is necessary,” argues CDU defense politician Roderich Kiesewetter.
Serious damage for Scholz
The CDU foreign politician Norbert Röttgen, in turn, states that Scholz has suffered serious damage. The question arises as to “why the Russian secret service and perhaps even a higher authority are doing so much damage to the Chancellor by publishing the conversation right now.”
The chairwoman of the Defense Committee, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP), sees the reason for the publication as Russia wanting to prevent Scholz from giving the green light for the Taurus delivery.
