Probable German chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz has announced his intention to change Berlin’s policy on supplying Ukraine with Taurus missiles after the election.

European Pravda reported on this.

Merz assured that he would not abandon the position he had declared before the start of the early election campaign.

“My position and the position of my faction have always been clear,” he emphasized, noting that he was ready to supply more than just missiles.

Merz added that his personal position was to increase the supply of European weapons to Ukraine.

At the same time, he noted that the supply would be preceded by negotiations between the countries supplying weapons to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and emphasized that the United States would not participate in them.

“We must be ready to deliver, but only if we reach an agreement with our European partners, in particular the UK and France, which also have long-range missiles, on the division of roles,” the politician concluded.

Discussions on the supply of Taurus to Ukraine

The supply of Taurus cruise missiles for the needs of the Ukrainian Air Force has long been discussed both domestically in Germany and in international circles.

In January 2024, it became known that the Government of the United Kingdom had proposed to the Government of Germany to conclude an agreement that would increase the supply of Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine.

The proposed agreement provides for the transfer of Taurus KEPD 350 cruise missiles to the United Kingdom. It remains unclear whether those would be new missiles or ones that were already in service with the German Air Force.

This would provide Ukraine with an opportunity to receive an additional number of the Storm Shadow high-precision cruise missiles to strengthen its defense capabilities.