Germany’s soon-to-be Chancellor Friedrich Merz has expressed his willingness to send Taurus missiles to Ukraine to help Kyiv gain an advantage over Russia. Merz’s stance is in stark contrast to the current policy of incumbent German leader Olaf Scholz, who has refused to provide Ukraine with the missiles. Merz’s comments come in response to a recent Russian missile attack in Sumy, which he condemned as a “serious war crime” that resulted in the deaths of 34 civilians and injuries to 117 others. The incoming German chancellor believes that the Ukrainian military needs access to long-range weapons like the Taurus missiles to be able to “get ahead of the situation” in their conflict with Russia.
Merz emphasized that any decision to deliver Taurus missiles to Ukraine would be coordinated with Germany’s European allies. He noted that countries like the UK and France have already been providing Ukraine with cruise missiles, but the Taurus system offers a higher range and precision, making it suitable for targeting critical infrastructure like the Kerch Bridge. The Kerch Bridge is a key link between Russia and the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula, and Ukraine has been seeking the ability to destroy it strategically. Merz believes that sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine could help put the country ahead of the situation and deter further aggression from Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom Merz does not believe will respond positively to weakness and peace offers.
Ukraine has been requesting the delivery of German Taurus cruise missiles for years to target crucial infrastructure like the Kerch Bridge, which has been attacked numerous times during the conflict but not fully destroyed. Chancellor Scholz has consistently refused to send Taurus missiles to Ukraine out of concern that Germany could be drawn into the war if it supplies weapons to Kyiv. However, with Merz set to take office as the new chancellor, there is a possibility that Germany’s stance on the issue could change. It is unclear whether the Social Democratic Party (SPD) will support Merz’s position on providing Ukraine with Taurus missiles, as the CDU and SPD have agreed to form a coalition government.
In light of the escalating conflict between Ukraine and Russia, Germany’s readiness to consider sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine signals a potential shift in the country’s approach to the conflict. By offering Ukraine access to advanced long-range weapons, Germany aims to support Kyiv in gaining a strategic advantage over Russia and deterring further aggression. However, the decision to deliver Taurus missiles will be contingent on consultations with Germany’s European allies and ensuring that it does not escalate the conflict or make Germany a party to the war. The incoming chancellor, Friedrich Merz, views sending Taurus missiles as a means of positioning Ukraine strategically and sending a strong message to Putin that weakness will not be tolerated. As Germany navigates its role in the conflict and works to support Ukraine in defending its sovereignty, the delivery of Taurus missiles could have significant implications for the dynamics of the conflict and the region as a whole.
