German parliament rejects new opposition call to send Taurus missiles to Ukraine

Germany has become the second-biggest supplier of military aid to Ukraine after the United States (Britta Pedersen/dpa via AP)

German lawmakers have rejected a new call by the opposition for the government to send Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine, a day after Chancellor Olaf Scholz defended his refusal to supply the weapons.

The main centre-right opposition bloc has sought to keep up pressure on the issue and exploit divisions in Mr Scholz’s unpopular three-party coalition, even as the German leader tries to put a lid on the debate.