Scholz’s Party Rules Out Taurus Missile Deliveries to Ukraine in Leaked Election Draft

Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) has refused the delivery of Taurus missiles to Ukraine in its party program, German media reported on December 15, citing a leaked draft of the program. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is the SPD’s candidate for chancellor in the upcoming February elections in Germany.

Despite this refusal, the program reportedly indicates that the SPD will remain committed to the diplomatic, financial, humanitarian, and military support of Ukraine for as long as necessary.

Additionally, the SPD stressed that Ukraine must have the ability to participate in potential negotiations with Russia from a strong position.

“We will not accept a dictated Russian peace at the expense of Ukraine,” the document allegedly reads.

In the program, the SPD endorses Scholz’s long-held opposition to the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. The program states that such a development could make Germany and NATO parties to the war, despite other countries, such as the US, already having provided similar long-range weapons.

The leader of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union and Scholz’s fellow candidate for Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, previously stated that if elected Chancellor, he would push for a 24-hour deadline for Russia to end the war. Should this demand go unmet, he would support delivering Taurus long-range missiles to Ukraine, potentially enabling strikes on Russian territory. Ukraine has long advocated for these missiles to strengthen its defense capabilities.