German lawmakers step up pressure on Merz to supply Taurus missiles to Ukraine

Ntv reported the information.

CDU foreign policy spokesman Roderich Kiesewetter stated that "the time has come to finally begin training Ukrainians on Taurus systems and to deliver them."

"Taurus can at least partially ease the situation and thus protect the civilian population in Ukraine, if the system is delivered in larger quantities," he said.

Similar views were expressed by CDU politician Thomas Röwekamp, chairman of the Bundestag Defense Committee.

He stated that Chancellor Friedrich Merz, by dropping restrictions on flight range, “removed one argument that had hindered the supply of Taurus.” This was “not yet a commitment” to deliver Taurus, but it eliminated the justification for the earlier refusal.

However, Kiesewetter noted that Germany has not yet supplied any long-range weapon systems, so this statement has no practical consequences for Ukraine and “is essentially meaningless for Germany.”

Green Party politician Anton Hofreiter also voiced support for supplying Taurus missiles. “Merz’s statement is nothing more than a smokescreen if he doesn’t deliver the Taurus cruise missiles,” he said in an interview with Rheinische Post.

According to him, only Taurus missiles can strike key Russian military centers in the border region.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz “is obliged to increase pressure on Putin and provide consistent civil and military support to Ukraine,” said Deborah Düring, foreign policy spokesperson for the Greens’ parliamentary group, in an interview with Tagesspiegel.

“As an opposition politician, Merz demanded Taurus deliveries. Now is the time: just do it and show that your words are followed by concrete actions, Mr. Merz!” she said.

Düring sharply criticized the former coalition partner, the SPD. “It’s astonishing how strongly the SPD is once again slowing down aid to Ukraine,” she said.

She noted that the “indecision and hesitation” of SPD leader Lars Klingbeil shows that former Chancellor Olaf Scholz was not the only problem. “Klingbeil’s stance is dangerously naive,” Düring said.

• On May 10, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, answering a question about the possible transfer of long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, said that this matter would be discussed within the Coalition of the Willing and together with the U.S.
• On May 27, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed that Ukraine’s allies lifted restrictions on the use of long-range weapons to strike targets deep inside Russia several months ago.