Germany mulls missile support for Ukraine amid training needs
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed the possibility of providing Taurus missiles to Ukraine but emphasized that it requires months of training.
What do you need to know?
- Transfer of Taurus missiles to Ukraine: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in an interview with ZDF television, confirmed that providing Ukraine with long-range cruise missiles, Taurus, is possible but would require several months of training for Ukrainian soldiers.
- Cooperation with European partners: Germany is closely cooperating with the United Kingdom and France, which have already supplied Ukraine with long-range missiles, Storm Shadow and Scalp.
- Criticism and political decisions: Merz was previously criticized for unclear statements regarding the transfer of missiles, and the decision to supply the Taurus missiles has not yet been announced.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in a conversation with ZDF television, emphasized that providing Ukraine with Taurus missiles is possible but would require several months of training for Ukrainian soldiers.
What are the conditions for transferring Taurus missiles?
- We have always said that Taurus would require several months of training for Ukrainian soldiers - stated Merz. He emphasized that cooperation with European partners, such as the United Kingdom and France, which have already delivered long-range missiles to Ukraine, is crucial in this process.
Merz, who previously criticized his predecessor Olaf Scholz for an ambiguous stance on arming Ukraine, himself faced criticism from members of his CDU party regarding unclear statements about the transfer of long-range missiles that could be used against targets deep within Russian territory.
Taurus missiles, which can hit targets at a distance of approximately 500 kilometres, are considered highly effective "bunker busters." Their potential transfer to Ukraine is, therefore, a significant element in the context of military support for the country.
