Merz advocates cautious approach on Taurus missiles to Ukraine
Friedrich Merz, the CDU candidate for chancellor, argues that Germany will not become involved in the conflict by supplying Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. Three countries – the USA, France, and the United Kingdom – are already supplying Ukraine with similar weapons systems, he stated.
Friedrich Merz, the CDU candidate for chancellor, has once again defended the supply of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. Three countries – the USA, France, and the United Kingdom – are already supplying Ukraine with comparable weapons systems – he stated, referring to the Ukrainian requests supported by the European Union and categorically rejected by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, as reported by "Die Welt" on Sunday.
– As a result of the delivery, all three, the USA, France, and the United Kingdom, did not become a party to the war – said Merz. The Taurus is "an element serving to restore peace in Ukraine", he added.
Germany in peacekeeping forces?
According to "Die Welt," Merz believes that any potential German participation in peacekeeping forces in Ukraine should be in accordance with international law.
If a peace agreement is necessary and if Ukraine needs security guarantees, then we can only discuss this if there is an appropriate mandate under international law; I do not see this at the moment – said the CDU leader.
– I would like such a mandate to be based on consensus with Russia, not on conflict – he added.
Asked what security guarantees he could envisage for Ukraine outside of NATO membership to ensure a possible ceasefire with Russia, he said: I cannot imagine anything today that would move in that direction.
– We are far from such a ceasefire. This is all a matter that needs to be clarified in the coming weeks, maybe months."
