Germany is prepared to send Taurus missiles to Ukraine as part of efforts to help Kyiv seize the momentum against Russia, the soon-to-be Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said.
Speaking with ARD’s Caren Miosga on Sunday, Merz made it clear that he stood by his past calls to give the Ukrainian military the long-range weapons.
The suggestion breaks with the policy of the incumbent German leader Olaf Scholz, who has refused to give Ukraine the missiles.
Merz’s comments came after a Russian missile attack — which he called “a serious war crime” — left at least 34 civilians dead and 117 wounded in the Ukrainian city of Sumy.
The German chancellor-in-waiting explained his position on the Taurus missiles by saying that the Ukrainian military needs to be able to “get ahead of the situation”.
However, Merz stressed that the delivery of long-range missiles would only happen after consultations with Germany’s European allies.
“That has to be coordinated. And if it is agreed, then Germany should participate,” said Merz, the leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
Merz noted that German allies such as the British and the French have already been supplying the Ukrainians with cruise missiles.
However, the Taurus system offers a greater range than the French Scalp cruise missile or the British Storm Shadow missile. It also has the necessary precision to effectively destroy critical targets such as bridge piers.
The incoming German chancellor mentioned that it could be used to target the Kerch Bridge, the most important land link between Russia and the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula.
“That would be one way of finally putting this country strategically — to stay with the term — ahead of the situation,” explained Merz, adding that he was not convinced that “Putin would react positively to weakness and peace offers”.
Ukraine has been demanding the delivery of German Taurus cruise missiles for years, primarily in order to be able to target strategically important infrastructure such as the Kerch Bridge.
The bridge has been attacked several times during the war but not fully destroyed.
Chancellor Scholz has always rejected the delivery of Taurus missiles, fearing that Germany could become a party to the war if it sends Kyiv the weapons.
The policy of the outgoing SPD chancellor has been criticised by Ukraine.
It is unclear if Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD), which has agreed to form a coalition government with the CDU, will support Merz’s stance on the issue.
