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Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (on March 7th)

Photo: Filip Singer / EPA

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is open to her British colleague David Cameron's proposal to provide Ukraine with new cruise missiles through a ring exchange.

“That would be an option,” said the Green politician on Sunday evening on the ARD program “Caren Miosga.”

She pointed out that such a ring exchange had already taken place with other material.

»The ring exchange was, so to speak, a German invention.

That would be an option.

And we did that some time ago with other material," said the minister.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) had already resorted to barter as an indirect variant of military aid at the beginning of the Ukrainian war, when he did not yet want to send Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine.

In an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung, Cameron expressed his intention to "work closely with our German partners to help Ukraine."

Cameron also believes an exchange of rings is possible, which could allay Scholz's concerns.

Scholz rejects the delivery of the Taurus missiles with a range of 500 kilometers to Ukraine because he fears that this could drag Germany into the war.

"We are prepared to look at all options to achieve the maximum effect for Ukraine." But he would "not give any details and tell our opponents what we plan to do," said Cameron.

Baerbock seems open to Taurus deliveries

In an exchange of rings, Germany could give Taurus cruise missiles to Great Britain - and London, in turn, could deliver further Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine.

The Storm Shadow and Taurus weapons are similar in design, but by no means identical.

From a German perspective, this new form of exchange would be attractive.

The Taurus systems would not be used in Ukraine.

This would rule out the possibility that the high-tech weapons would have to be programmed for attacks with German help.

From the Chancellor's perspective, this support would come dangerously close to direct German participation in the war.

That's exactly what Scholz wants to avoid at all costs.

Baerbock made it clear that she would support Taurus deliveries.

She had already said very clearly in the summer that Ukraine needed extensive weapons systems with a view to the mine belt in the east of the country, she emphasized and, when asked, added: "in brackets: also Taurus."

This also included, for example, rocket launchers and self-propelled howitzers that Germany had already delivered.

This question has actually already been discussed.

jok/dpa