German Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz has denied accusations made by incumbent Chancellor Olaf Scholz, saying he did not issue an ultimatum to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the supply of long-range Taurus cruise missiles to Kyiv.

Merz clarified that his proposal concerned lifting restrictions on the range of use of these weapons, which, in his opinion, would allow Ukraine to “influence the development of the conflict.”

Olaf Scholz had previously accused Merz of pursuing a risky policy that could escalate the conflict. The chancellor stressed that such proposals endanger Germany's own security and threatened that such decisions were "like playing Russian roulette."

The debate over the Taurus deliveries has been one of the main topics in German politics for several months now. Missiles capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 500 kilometers could significantly strengthen Ukraine's capabilities. However, such a move raises concerns among politicians and the German public due to the possible consequences for relations with Moscow.

Merz, of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), criticizes Scholz for his cautious stance, arguing that Germany has a duty to do more to support Ukraine. The chancellor, for his part, defends a more measured approach, citing the need to avoid drawing Germany directly into the conflict.

TAURUS KEPD 350 is a German-Swedish high-precision air-to-ground cruise missile designed to destroy strategically important targets at ranges of up to 500 km. The missile was developed by the TAURUS Systems GmbH consortium (MBDA and Saab) and is intended for use with multirole fighters such as the Tornado, Eurofighter Typhoon and F/A-18. TAURUS is equipped with a combined guidance system (GPS, inertial and infrared), which ensures high strike accuracy. Its Mephisto warhead consists of a penetrating and high-explosive charge, which allows it to destroy fortified targets such as bunkers, bridges and command posts. The missile has a low-observable design and the ability to bypass air defense systems, due to which it is used to carry out strikes in high-threat conditions. TAURUS is in service with the Air Forces of Germany, Spain, South Korea and other countries, strengthening their strike capabilities.