Germany Ready to Supply Long-Range Missiles to Ukraine

Germany is prepared to send Taurus long-range missiles to Ukraine, according to incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz, The Gaze reports, citing The Financial Times.

Merz, who will assume office next month, condemned Sunday’s Russian missile strike on Sumy—which killed at least 34 civilians and injured 117—as “a serious war crime,” stressing that Kyiv must be supported in order to “get ahead” in the war.

Asked whether he would deliver the Taurus missiles long requested by Ukraine, Merz said he would be willing—if coordinated with European allies.

“Our European partners are already supplying cruise missiles,” he said. “The British are doing it, the French are doing it, and the Americans are doing it anyway.”

He added: “This must be jointly agreed. And if it agreed, then Germany should take part.”

Support from Merz’s future coalition partners, particularly the Social Democrats (SPD), remains uncertain.

Merz said the attack on Sumy shows “what Putin does to those who talk to him about a ceasefire,” adding, “At some point, [Putin] must recognize the hopelessness of this war, which means we have to help Ukraine.”

Current Chancellor Olaf Scholz has so far refused to send Taurus missiles, citing the risk of escalation. The Taurus, developed by MBDA and Sweden’s Saab, has a range of over 500km and is more powerful than the Storm Shadow and ATACMS systems already in use.

As The Gaze previously reported, Germany also announced a new Electronic Warfare Coalition to boost Ukraine’s defense capabilities, along with a new military aid package including four IRIS-T air defense systems.