Friedrich Merz supports delivery of TAURUS missiles to Ukraine
The President of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and potential future Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, has expressed his support for delivering German-Swedish TAURUS cruise missiles to Ukraine, which is currently under Russian attack, DW reports.
This statement comes at a time when Ukraine is urgently seeking additional military support to enhance its offensive capabilities and counter Russian forces on the eastern front.
Merz stated that such a decision should be made only if coordinated with European partners. "I have always said that I would agree to these deliveries, but only if coordinated with European partners," he said on Sunday, April 13, during an interview on German ARD.
The conservative politician noted that other countries, such as the United Kingdom, France, and the United States, are already providing Ukraine with cruise missiles and suggested that Germany should join these efforts if an international consensus is reached.
From Merz's perspective, the Ukrainian army needs the ability to shift from defense to offense to directly influence the dynamics of the conflict. In this context, he mentioned the destruction of critical land lines between Russia and the Crimean Peninsula – a vital logistical target for Russian forces – as a potential strategic application of the TAURUS missiles.
In the same interview, Merz condemned the recent Russian attack on the city of Sumy, calling it "a height of perfidy" and "a premeditated and calculated war crime." He also reaffirmed his belief that only a firm stance from the West can force Vladimir Putin to recognize the futility of continuing the war.
While the Christian Democratic Union publicly supports the delivery of TAURUS missiles, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has so far refrained from approving these deliveries.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed on April 1 his hope that this decision could be reconsidered after a new government is installed in Berlin.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
