Moscow Announces 1-Hour Interrogation Content
Moscow has released the details of a one-hour interrogation session regarding leaked audio recordings of German officials discussing a missile attack on Crimea. German Ambassador to Moscow, Alexander Lambsdorff, arrived at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the afternoon of March 4th. The Russian media previously reported Lambsdorff’s summons for questioning.
Upon Lambsdorff’s arrival at Smolenskaya Square, he was surrounded by journalists, who bombarded him with questions. “No comments, please let me in,” Lambsdorff replied, attempting to push through the crowd.
After 1 hour and 10 minutes, Lambsdorff emerged and “responded to questions from Russian journalists with silence.”
However, a few hours later, Lambsdorff denied being summoned when questioned by Deutsche Welle, stating that his visit to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs was unrelated to the leaked discussion among German officials about supplying Taurus long-range missiles to Ukraine.
Lambsdorff explained, “There have been invitations to discuss various bilateral issues,” adding that the meeting had been planned even before the leaked audio recording was made public.
The German Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Lambsdorff’s visit was a prearranged meeting, not a summons. When asked whether Germany would summon the Russian Ambassador in response to the leaked audio, the German Foreign Ministry stated that it did not have any information on the matter.
Shortly after Lambsdorff denied being summoned, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement on March 4th, requesting Lambsdorff to clarify issues related to the discussion among German officials regarding a planned missile attack on Crimea.
“The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested that German Ambassador Alexander Lambsdorff provide an explanation regarding the high-level discussions among German officials on the possibility of supplying Taurus cruise missiles to the Kiev government and providing practical assistance to the Ukrainian army in its fight against Russian targets. This highlights the West’s interference in the Ukrainian conflict,” the Russian Foreign Ministry statement read.
Furthermore, the German diplomat was informed that Germany’s efforts to restrict the activities of Russian journalists in Germany were “unacceptable.” The Russian Foreign Ministry emphasized, “Such actions will be met with a strong response from us.”
On the same day, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz confirmed that Berlin had refused to supply Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. According to Scholz, the transfer of such weaponry would require direct involvement from the German military.
“It is inconceivable to supply a long-range combat system without considering how to control it. And if we want to control it, it can only be achieved with the involvement of the German military,” Scholz said.
Scholz reiterated his opposition to providing Taurus missiles to Ukraine, as it would risk involving Germany in the conflict.
Earlier, Scholz had repeatedly expressed his opposition to providing Taurus missiles to Ukraine, as it could potentially draw Germany into the conflict.
In addition to Taurus missiles, the leaked discussion among German officials allegedly mentioned the presence of foreign soldiers in Ukraine to assist Kiev in operating Western-supplied weapons.
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