Germany’s ambassador to the U.K. has criticized former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace for “falling into the Russian trap” by condemning a leaked phone call involving top German military officers discussing support for Ukraine.
The leaked call, initially published by Russian state-controlled media, revealed discussions about the potential use of Taurus long-range cruise missiles by Ukraine, shedding light on Britain’s involvement in the conflict.
Wallace, who served as Britain’s defense secretary until last year, criticized Germany for the leak, stating that the country is “pretty penetrated by Russian intelligence, so it just demonstrates they are neither secure nor reliable.”
UK Soldier (Credits: The Guardian)
Ambassador Miguel Berger responded to Wallace’s comments on Radio 4’s Today show, describing them as “extremely unhelpful” and warning against falling into the Russian trap of creating division.
He emphasized that the leaked conversation was a professional discussion about the use of long-range missiles and should not be misconstrued.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius explained that the call was intercepted after one participant logged in through an insecure line from a hotel room in Singapore.
Berger stated that there is no need for the German government to apologize, as preliminary investigation results suggest the leak was due to an “individual mistake” by one of the officers involved.
The incident highlights the complexity and sensitivity of international relations, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the challenges posed by Russian disinformation and intelligence operations.
