Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU), who is expected to be elected as the next German Chancellor next month, has hinted at the possibility of providing Ukraine with the long-range cruise missile “Taurus.” Currently, Ukraine has received permission to use the U.S. ATACMS and the British and French Storm Shadow (Scalp) missiles. If restrictions on the longer-range Taurus are lifted, it could become a significant factor in the ongoing conflict.
According to international media such as AFP and the Financial Times (FT), Merz stated in an interview with German public broadcaster ARD on the 13th (local time) that “our European partners are already supplying cruise missiles,” suggesting that if a mutual agreement is reached, Germany should participate as well. He emphasized the need for a joint agreement and noted that the U.K., France, and the U.S. are already involved in such efforts.
Merz condemned a recent Russian ballistic missile attack on Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region, which resulted in over 30 deaths, as a severe war crime. He stressed the necessity for Ukraine to have support to gain an advantage in the war, criticizing Russian President Putin’s actions and highlighting the importance of assisting Ukraine.
Merz also hinted at allowing the use of the Taurus missile to target the Crimea Bridge, which connects Russia’s mainland to the Crimean peninsula. The Taurus missile, jointly developed by European defense companies MBDA and Swedish defense company Saab, is an air-launched cruise missile equipped with an intelligent warhead system capable of causing significant damage to structures like bridges and bunkers. It has a range exceeding 500 km, providing a wider operational scope than ATACMS (approximately 300 km) or Storm Shadow (approximately 250 km), reaching deeper into Russian territory.
The South Korean Air Force has been operating the Taurus missile since its introduction in 2015. For Ukraine, currently struggling against massive Russian offensives, the Taurus could become a “game-changer” in reversing the unfavorable situation.
Ukraine has consistently requested the use of the Taurus missile, but former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had previously refused due to concerns over escalation. In contrast, Merz has criticized Scholz’s stance. Last October, Merz suggested that a 24-hour ultimatum should be given to deliver the Taurus unless Putin ceased his attacks on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, although he later retracted the proposal due to concerns over backlash in the general election.
Despite these developments, it remains uncertain whether Ukraine will actually receive the Taurus missile, given Merz’s potentially unstable political standing as he assumes the Chancellor role through a “grand coalition” with the Social Democratic Party (SPD). The FT noted that the SPD’s support for providing the Taurus to Ukraine is also uncertain.
(Photo credits: AP, South Korean Air Force, Yonhap News)