German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged on 19 November to equip Ukraine's armed forces with long-range weapons systems but declined to specify whether Germany would supply the controversial Taurus cruise missiles that Kyiv has sought for months.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Berlin, Merz said Germany has been working for months with Ukrainian officials on what he described as "long-range fire" capabilities, according to AFP footage of the event.
When asked directly by a Swedish journalist about Taurus deliveries, Merz avoided giving a clear answer. "Over the past few months, we have been actively cooperating with the Ukrainian government on the implementation of projects to create long-range missiles. The Ukrainian army will be equipped with such weapons systems," Merz said.
The chancellor justified his evasiveness by citing tactical considerations. "We have agreed that we will no longer discuss details publicly, because we believe that a certain degree of ambiguity is necessary, especially for the Russian side, regarding the extent of our military support in this area," he explained.
Merz added that Germany would continue efforts to equip Ukrainian forces with appropriate-range weapon systems in coming weeks and months, potentially extending to helping Ukraine produce such systems domestically
"We will do everything possible to equip the Ukrainian army with weapons systems with sufficient range, and this number will increase in the coming weeks and months if necessary," the chancellor said.
In April, Merz announced his readiness to provide Ukraine with Taurus missiles, but only in coordination with allies. In May, German government spokesman Stephan Cornelius indicated that if Berlin approves Taurus transfers, the decision would be classified.
The Taurus KEPD 350 is a German-Swedish cruise missile with a range exceeding 500 kilometers, giving it greater reach than the British-French Storm Shadow missiles and American ATACMS that Ukraine has already received.
