Germany and UK in missile deal for Kyiv

Plan would allow Berlin to indirectly send long-range weapons to Ukraine without crossing red line

GERMANY’S foreign minister has confirmed that Britain and Berlin are discussing a weapons rotation, or “Ringtausch”, which would allow more deliveries of long-range missiles to Ukraine.

Under the proposals, Storm Shadow missiles from a UK stockpile would be sent to Ukraine and in turn replenished with Taurus missiles from Germany. This would allow Germany to indirectly give Ukraine long-range missiles without crossing a red line of Olaf Scholz, the Chancellor, who is staunchly opposed to sending the powerful Taurus system as he fears it would be used to strike Moscow.

Annalena Baerbock, Germany’s foreign minister, confirmed at the weekend that Berlin was looking at the Ringtausch as an “option,” noting that similar deals had been done before. “The Ringtausch was, so to say, a German invention. It would be an option. And we have previously done this with other material,” Ms Baerbock said.

It comes two months after German newspaper Handelsblatt reported that a Ringtausch was in the early stages of discussion between Britain and Germany, with the latter undecided on whether to proceed with it. At the time the German government declined to comment, though Handelsblatt suggested the idea was attractive to Mr Scholz as it avoided direct shipments of Taurus missiles to Ukraine.

Britain is already sending Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine, while France is providing Scalp missiles, but Germany continues to refuse provision of its Taurus system amid concerns it could drag Germany into the war.

Mr Scholz, who has repeatedly vowed that Germany will never be a “Kriegspartei,” or war party, is concerned about Kyiv using Taurus missiles to strike directly at the Kremlin or the strategically important Kerch bridge. Taurus missiles have the range to reach such targets, unlike Storm Shadows and Scalps. Unlike Britain and France, Germany has no nuclear weapons, which could explain Mr Scholz’s concerns about provoking a strong response from Moscow.

Lord Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, addressed the Taurus debate in an interview with the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung at the weekend. He said it was “absolutely possible” for Germany to set conditions on the use of the system “to ensure that they do not in any way contribute to escalation”.

Lars Klingbeil, a co-leader of Mr Scholz’s SPD party, said yesterday the Taurus debate was unhelpful as Berlin was totally focused on producing and delivering more ammunition to Ukraine. He said: “That’s what everyone should focus on and no other debates.”

Germany has already played a role in several ring exchanges with Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Greece.