WorthyNews: Germany: ‘British, French Troops In Ukraine’

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By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

LONDON/BERLIN/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Germany has come under British criticism for a “flagrant abuse of intelligence” after revealing that British and French soldiers are in Ukraine to support Ukrainian troops launching long-range Storm Shadow missiles.

Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, said Monday that he would not deliver the Taurus, Berlin’s equivalent of the Storm Shadow, as it would require soldiers assisting on the ground, Britain’s The Telegraph newspaper reported.

Scholz argued that following the British and French approach with their systems would make Germany a “participant in the war.”

Worthy News reported that NATO troops are already on the ground in Ukraine, citing a well-informed U.S. security diplomat with links to the White House.

However, “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,” Scholtz said.

“German soldiers must at no point and in no place be linked to targets this system reaches,” he added.

He spoke at a time when Germany was still coming to terms with its history during World War Two and had been reluctant to get directly involved in armed conflicts such as in Ukraine.

INCREASED CONCERNS

However, Defense sources told The Telegraph that his comments had increased concerns over the safety of military and diplomatic personnel from the two countries.

Tobias Ellwood, the former chairman of the Commons defense committee, said: “This is a flagrant abuse of intelligence deliberately designed to distract from Germany’s reluctance to arm Ukraine with its long-range missile system. This will no doubt be used by Russia to racket up the escalator ladder.”

Former British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace accused Scholz of “not only dangerous use of facts but also often wrong facts.”

British Ministry of Defence tried to publicly lay down Scholtz’s comments, saying that “Ukraine’s use of Storm Shadow and its targeting processes are the business of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”

It also clarified that Scholz “did not confirm the presence of British troops in Ukraine.” However, it did confirm that the department had “previously been clear that a small number of personnel are in the country to provide security for our diplomatic presence and to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”

It did not reveal how many forces are in Ukraine.

The controversy comes while Russia’s President has threatened to attack Western countries with nuclear weapons if they send ground troops to Ukraine.

CHANCELLOR STATEMENT

“The chancellor’s statement regarding France and Britain’s alleged involvement in operating long-range cruise missiles used in Ukraine is completely irresponsible,” said Norbert Rottgen, a senior legislator from former German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party, the CDU.

Scholz is under mounting pressure to deliver Germany’s long-range missile to disrupt Russia’s supply lines and prevent Moscow from taking further territory.

However, the chancellor is reluctant to deliver Taurus missiles, fearing that they could strike politically sensitive sites both in Ukraine and in Russia, sources said. A

However, critics say the missile could be pre-programmed to prevent such attacks.

Kyiv has urged Germany and other countries to step up its support as it faces an uphill battle against invading Russian troops in part due to Western military support arriving at a slower phase.

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