Fury at ‘dangerous’ German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for claiming UK troops are helping Ukraine fire missiles at Russian forces – as Tories say he has ‘facts wrong’ and is giving Putin an excuse to ‘escalate’

Germany faced fury today after Chancellor Olaf Scholz claimed British troops are helping Ukraine launch long-range missiles at Russian forces. 

An extraordinary spat has erupted after Mr Scholz declared he will not hand long-range Taurus missiles to Kyiv as it would require German troops to assist on the ground.

He argued that following the lead of the UK and France would make his nation a ‘participant in the war.’ 

But Tories branded the comments ‘dangerous’, ‘irresponsible’ and a ‘slap in the face’ for NATO allies. He was also accused of giving Vladimir Putin and excuse for ‘escalation’.  

Underlining the risks of Mr Scholz’s words, Mr Putin used an annual speech today to claim NATO and the West are ‘preparing to strike’ Russian territory and warn that he is ready to retaliate with nuclear weapons.

Though it is known that the UK provides Ukraine with intelligence on Russian targets, it is not currently known to what extend support is given to Ukrainian troops in direct military action

Underlining the risks of Mr Scholz’s words, Mr Putin used an annual speech today to claim NATO and the West are ‘preparing to strike’ Russian territory and warn that he is ready to retaliate with nuclear weapons 

In his controversial intervention on Monday, Mr Scholz said: ‘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.

‘German soldiers must at no point and in no place be linked to targets [the Taurus] system reaches.’

Former defence secretary Ben Wallace told the Standard: ‘Scholz’s behaviour has showed that as far as the security of Europe goes he is the wrong man, in the wrong job at the wrong time… 

‘Time and time again Germany has been last to help Ukraine. At every stage they have had to be pushed or embarrassed into doing anything. That isn’t leadership that is followship.

‘Scholz’s latest gaffe shows that when his excuses are exposed he lashes out with not only dangerous use of facts but also often wrong facts.’

Ex-minister Tobias Ellwood told the Telegraph: ‘This is a flagrant abuse of intelligence deliberately designed to distract from Germany’s reluctance to arm Ukraine with its own long-range missile system. This will no doubt be used by Russia to ratchet up the escalator ladder.’ 

Britain and France have long since announced that they were sending Storm Shadow and Scalp long-range missiles, respectively, to Ukraine.

On Tuesday, it was revealed that the UK had also stationed a ‘small number’ of troops in Ukraine in a support capacity, specifying only that some were involved in medical training. 

Though it is known that the UK provides Ukraine with intelligence on Russian targets, it is not currently known to what extend support is given to Ukrainian troops in direct military action. 

The intelligence community has lashed out at Scholz for his comments. Justin Crump, chief executive of Sibylline, an intelligence consultancy, told the newspaper: ‘British support to Ukraine is hardly news to Moscow given repeated leaks, but this has previously been veiled in ambiguity – itself drawing on a trick from Russia’s own playbook. 

‘Scholz though has more clearly pierced this veil. His assertion is a gift to Russian propagandists, already forming a key part of Russia’s effort to undermine NATO cohesion and support for Kyiv during this critical period ahead of US and UK elections.’

‘More immediately, it will drive Russia to redouble efforts to target foreign forces present in Ukraine and make inflated claims of losses.’

Norbert Rottgen, a senior MP from Angela Merkel’s former ruling party, the CDU added: ‘The chancellor’s statement regarding France and Britain’s alleged involvement in operating long-range cruise missiles used in Ukraine is completely irresponsible.’