Russia says German military recording proves Western involvement in Ukraine
The Kremlin spokesperson made this claim following the reported summoning of the German ambassador to Moscow
The Kremlin Monday said the content of leaked conversations between German officials discussing potential strikes on Crimea proved Western countries were participating in the conflict in Ukraine.
The leaks were embarrassing for Berlin, which is under pressure to supply Taurus missiles to Kyiv, which is struggling with ammunition shortages.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the conversations “once again highlight the collective West’s direct involvement in the Ukraine conflict.”
A 38-minute talk recording between German officers was posted on Russian social media late on Friday.
The officers discussed the use of German-made Taurus missiles in Ukraine and their potential impact.
Topics included aiming the missiles at targets such as a critical bridge over the Kerch strait linking the Russian mainland to Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.
Germany said it believed the recording featured an “intercepted” conversation in the Air Force division but could not tell whether it had been edited.
‘Plans to strike’
The Kremlin spokesperson said the recording “in itself suggests the Bundeswehr is discussing substantively and specifically plans to strike Russian territory.”
Peskov was speaking as Russian state-run agencies said the German ambassador to Russia had been summoned to the foreign ministry in Moscow.
Russian news agencies reported that Ambassador Alexander Graf Lambsdorff left the ministry building without commenting.
Germany’s foreign ministry denied Graf Lambsdorff had been summoned, instead saying he attended “a long-planned meeting in the Russian foreign ministry.”
The day before, Germany had accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of trying to sow disunity with the leak.
“It is about using this recording to destabilize and unsettle us,” said German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, adding that he “hoped that Putin will not succeed.”
Pistorius said he was unaware of any further leaks at the army and added that he would await the result of a military probe into the case before drawing any conclusions.
Kyiv has long been clamouring for Germany to provide it with Taurus missiles, which can reach targets up to 500 kilometres (about 300 miles) away.
‘Information war’
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has so far refused to send the missiles, fearing that it would lead to an escalation of the conflict with a nuclear-armed Russia.
With Russia’s offensive in Ukraine in its third year, Kyiv has ramped up its pleas for more military support from allies.
On the frontlines, its soldiers are outgunned and outnumbered and ammunition shortages are felt.
France and Britain have supplied Kyiv with SCALP or Storm Shadow missiles, which range about 250 kilometers.
But Scholz on Monday said that Germany could not justify matching British and French moves in sending long-range missiles to Ukraine and supporting the weapon system’s deployment.
However, part of the conversation in the leaked recording appeared to call into question Scholz’s explanation for why he could not provide Kyiv with the missiles.
The acquisition of Taurus missiles would provide a massive boost for Ukraine as Kyiv struggles to fend off Russia’s invigorated push on the frontlines.
With politicians in Germany urging answers over the wiretap, Pistorius warned the leak is “part of an information war that Putin is carrying out.”
“We should not fall for Putin’s line,” he said.
Source: Newsroom
