‘Don’t play Russian roulette’ with Ukraine – Scholz
Olaf Scholz has cautioned that supplying long-range Taurus missiles to Kiev could lead to an escalation of the Ukraine conflict. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has cautioned against making impulsive and irresponsible decisions regarding support for Ukraine, particularly in relation to long-range missiles.
During a campaign speech on Saturday that lasted an hour, Scholz criticized Friedrich Merz, the Christian Democratic Union’s candidate for chancellor in the upcoming federal election, for advocating the provision of long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine under certain conditions.
Merz suggested that Germany should issue an ultimatum to Russia, demanding an end to its attacks on Ukrainian targets. If Russia fails to comply, he proposed that Germany should relax its restrictions on missile range and supply the weapons to Kiev.
Scholz, who has consistently opposed sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine due to concerns about Germany becoming embroiled in the conflict, dismissed this approach. “All I can say is: Be careful! You don’t play Russian roulette with Germany’s security,” he stated, reaffirming his commitment to support Ukraine with “steadfast and level-headed” decisions.
Recently, in mid-November, Scholz engaged in his first phone conversation with Vladimir Putin since late 2022. During this call, the chancellor emphasized the need for Russia to be open to negotiations with Ukraine for a “fair and lasting peace,” while also indicating that Berlin is prepared to support Kiev “as long as necessary." In response, Putin claimed that the conflict stemmed from NATO's longstanding aggressive policies aimed at establishing an anti-Russian presence in Ukraine.
While Germany has been cautious about supplying Ukraine with long-range missiles, the U.S., U.K., and France have been more proactive, providing ATACMS and Storm Shadow/Scalp missiles to Kiev. Recently, the U.S. allowed Ukraine to use American-made long-range missiles for strikes deep within Russia, with reports from Moscow of attacks utilizing Storm Shadows.
Before this approval, Putin had warned that such a move would signify direct NATO involvement and alter the conflict's dynamics, as Ukraine lacks the capability to operate the missiles without targeting information from its Western allies.
After Ukraine conducted various strikes deep into Russian territory, Moscow responded with an attack on a defense facility in Dnepr, deploying its new Oreshnik medium-range hypersonic missile.
Navid Kalantari contributed to this report for TROIB News
During a campaign speech on Saturday that lasted an hour, Scholz criticized Friedrich Merz, the Christian Democratic Union’s candidate for chancellor in the upcoming federal election, for advocating the provision of long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine under certain conditions.
Merz suggested that Germany should issue an ultimatum to Russia, demanding an end to its attacks on Ukrainian targets. If Russia fails to comply, he proposed that Germany should relax its restrictions on missile range and supply the weapons to Kiev.
Scholz, who has consistently opposed sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine due to concerns about Germany becoming embroiled in the conflict, dismissed this approach. “All I can say is: Be careful! You don’t play Russian roulette with Germany’s security,” he stated, reaffirming his commitment to support Ukraine with “steadfast and level-headed” decisions.
Recently, in mid-November, Scholz engaged in his first phone conversation with Vladimir Putin since late 2022. During this call, the chancellor emphasized the need for Russia to be open to negotiations with Ukraine for a “fair and lasting peace,” while also indicating that Berlin is prepared to support Kiev “as long as necessary." In response, Putin claimed that the conflict stemmed from NATO's longstanding aggressive policies aimed at establishing an anti-Russian presence in Ukraine.
While Germany has been cautious about supplying Ukraine with long-range missiles, the U.S., U.K., and France have been more proactive, providing ATACMS and Storm Shadow/Scalp missiles to Kiev. Recently, the U.S. allowed Ukraine to use American-made long-range missiles for strikes deep within Russia, with reports from Moscow of attacks utilizing Storm Shadows.
Before this approval, Putin had warned that such a move would signify direct NATO involvement and alter the conflict's dynamics, as Ukraine lacks the capability to operate the missiles without targeting information from its Western allies.
After Ukraine conducted various strikes deep into Russian territory, Moscow responded with an attack on a defense facility in Dnepr, deploying its new Oreshnik medium-range hypersonic missile.
Navid Kalantari contributed to this report for TROIB News
