Aid for Ukraine

German Bundestag votes against Taurus delivery

(Bild: APA/AFP/CHRISTOF STACHE)

The German Bundestag has rejected the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. Only 182 MPs voted in favor on Thursday, 480 against. However, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) announced other military support.

Last week, he left open whether this would include the Taurus cruise missiles. "I can't answer that. I have read the application. The applicants will have thought of their part (...)", he said in response to a question from CDU MP Jürgen Hardt. Unlike Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Pistorius is a member of the government, but not of the Bundestag.

On Thursday, the Bundestag voted on a CDU/CSU motion calling for Taurus cruise missiles for Ukraine. The cruise missile can fly autonomously over hundreds of kilometers to its target and is launched from an aircraft (see video above).

Protesters are calling for rapid military support for Ukraine.(Bild: APA/AFP/CHRISTOF STACHE)

SCALP cruise missile(Bild: AFP)

"Ukraine is still not receiving all the material it urgently needs to effectively fend off the Russian war of aggression," said parliamentary group leader Friedrich Merz. Recently, military experts and politicians had repeatedly called for new and rapid aid for Ukraine, as Russian troops currently have an advantage. However, the motion was rejected by 480 votes to 182, with five MPs abstaining.

New military aid from Denmark
Meanwhile, the Danish government announced a new aid package for the war-torn country amounting to 1.7 billion kroner (the equivalent of around 228 million euros). More aid is needed if Ukraine is to be successful on the battlefield, said Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. She hoped that other countries would follow her example, "not in six or twelve months, but now, when the need is very, very great."