German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has ruled out supplying Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine, arguing that Kyiv no longer needs them due to its own increasingly capable strike systems, according to NV.
The Taurus missile, a German-Swedish air-launched cruise missile with a range exceeding 500 kilometers, has been a subject of debate among Ukraine’s partners, particularly over concerns about escalation and the complexity of deployment. Merz’s latest comments suggest Berlin no longer sees the system as necessary given Ukraine’s growing long-range strike capacity.
Ukraine's own weapons are "significantly more effective," Merz says
Speaking in response to questions in the Bundestag, Merz said Ukraine now possesses domestically produced long-range weapons that are “significantly more effective” than the relatively limited number of Taurus missiles Germany could provide. He added that Ukraine is currently “better armed than ever before.”
Merz noted that his earlier support for delivering Taurus missiles was based on the assumption that Germany had sufficient operational stock to share. He indicated that the situation has since changed, both in terms of German capabilities and Ukraine’s evolving military technology.
A shift from his earlier position
The decision marks a shift from his previous position. As a candidate in November 2024, Merz said he would consider supplying Taurus missiles and potentially allow strikes on Russian territory if Moscow did not halt its offensive.
He later stated that any transfer would be coordinated with the United States, and in 2025 described the issue as still open, noting that training Ukrainian forces to use the system could take up to six months.
"We will not solve the problem with more weapons"
Despite highlighting Ukraine’s improved military capabilities, Merz pointed to ongoing financial constraints facing Kyiv, suggesting that additional weapons alone would not resolve the country’s challenges.
“At this moment, we will not solve the problem with more weapons,” he said, as cited by NV.
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