Scholz's party to include refusal to provide Ukraine with Taurus missiles in election manifesto
Current German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democratic Party (SPD) may include a refusal to provide Ukraine with Taurus long-range missiles in its manifesto.
Source: DPA and Berliner Morgenpost, citing the draft SPD party manifesto, as reported by European Pravda
Details: In the document cited by DPA, the German Social Democrats pledge "diplomatic, military, financial and humanitarian support for Ukrainians in their fight against Russia’s aggression, which violates international law – for as long as it takes".
"Ukraine must be able to negotiate with Russia on equal terms... We will not accept a peace dictated by Russia at Ukraine’s expense," the draft manifesto states.
The SPD also supports military aid to Ukraine "with prudence and a sense of proportion", ensuring that Germany and NATO do not become parties to the conflict.
"That is why we support Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s decision not to supply Taurus cruise missiles from Bundeswehr stockpiles," the media quote the manifesto as reading.
Furthermore, the SPD manifesto makes no mention of ongoing discussions about Ukraine's NATO accession, peacekeeping forces in the event of a "ceasefire", or other security assurances for Ukraine.
Among other things, Scholz's party favours allocating at least 2% of the country's GDP to defence and deploying US Tomahawk missiles in Germany, as well as advocating for a new, though voluntary, model of military service.
The SPD's election manifesto must be approved at the party congress on 17 December.
Background:
- Germany's current chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has consistently refused to supply Ukraine with long-range weapons.
- Friedrich Merz, leader of the German opposition bloc CDU/CSU and a candidate for chancellor, said he would only provide Ukraine with Taurus missiles after consulting the United States.
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