Germany has been accused of a ‘flagrant abuse of intelligence’ after Chancellor Olaf Scholz claimed British troops are helping Ukraine launch long-range missiles at Putin’s forces.
Scholz said on Monday that he would not deliver German-made long-range missiles as it would require German troops to assist on the ground, arguing that following the UK’s lead would make his nation a ‘participant in the war.’
He said that delivering Taurus weapons systems would bring German troops to close to the front lines of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
‘What is being done in the way of target control and accompanying target control on the part of the British and the French can’t be done in Germany. Everyone who has dealt with this system knows that.
‘German soldiers must at no point and in no place be linked to targets [the Taurus] system reaches.’
Scholz’s comments are understood to be the first time British troops have been claimed to have supported Ukrainian troops in a military capacity.
Scholz said on Monday that he would not deliver German-made long-range missiles as it would require German troops to assist on the ground
Though it is known that the UK provides Ukraine with intelligence on Russian targets, it is not currently known to what extend support is given to Ukrainian troops in direct military action
Tobias Ellwood, the former chairman of the Commons defence committee, told the Telegraph: ‘This is a flagrant abuse of intelligence deliberately designed to distract from Germany’s reluctance to arm Ukraine with its own long-range missile system. This will no doubt be used by Russia to racket up the escalator ladder.’
Britain and France have long since announced that they were sending Storm Shadow and Scalp long-range missiles, respectively, to Ukraine.
On Tuesday, it was revealed that the UK had also stationed a ‘small number’ of troops in Ukraine in a support capacity, specifying only that some were involved in medical training.
Though it is known that the UK provides Ukraine with intelligence on Russian targets, it is not currently known to what extend support is given to Ukrainian troops in direct military action.
The intelligence community has lashed out at Scholz for his comments. Justin Crump, chief executive of Sibylline, an intelligence consultancy, told the newspaper: ‘British support to Ukraine is hardly news to Moscow given repeated leaks, but this has previously been veiled in ambiguity – itself drawing on a trick from Russia’s own playbook.
‘Scholz though has more clearly pierced this veil. His assertion is a gift to Russian propagandists, already forming a key part of Russia’s effort to undermine NATO cohesion and support for Kyiv during this critical period ahead of US and UK elections.’
‘More immediately, it will drive Russia to redouble efforts to target foreign forces present in Ukraine and make inflated claims of losses.’
Norbert Rottgen, a senior MP from Angela Merkel’s former ruling party, the CDU added: ‘The chancellor’s statement regarding France and Britain’s alleged involvement in operating long-range cruise missiles used in Ukraine is completely irresponsible.’