The leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Friedrich Merz, who is highly likely to become the new Chancellor of Germany following the early elections to the Bundestag in February 2025, is considering the possibility of transferring Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. This was reported by the publication Der Spiegel, citing its sources. It is expected that an official decision on deliveries could be announced soon after Merz takes up the post of head of government, which, according to his statements, will happen after the formation of a coalition government, scheduled for April 2025. 

The transfer of the long-range Taurus missiles, which can hit targets at a distance of up to 500 kilometers, will be a significant step in strengthening Germany’s military support for Ukraine. The Ukrainian Air Force has already begun preparations to integrate these missiles into its aircraft, including Soviet Su-24s and American F-16s, which Kyiv will begin receiving in 2024. This process, according to experts, requires significant technical efforts, including the adaptation of onboard systems and personnel training, which indicates the seriousness of the Ukrainian side’s intentions to use the new weapons. 

The decision to deliver the Taurus stands in stark contrast to the position of outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). Scholz has consistently opposed the transfer of the missiles throughout his term, citing the risk of escalating the conflict and of Berlin becoming too involved in the standoff. He has also stressed that the use of the Taurus requires German expertise, which could be seen as direct German involvement in the fighting, contrary to the non-interventionist policy of his administration. 

Merz's position, by contrast, reflects a more determined approach to supporting Ukraine, which became one of the key points of his election campaign. As early as November 2024, as the leader of the opposition, Merz declared the need to issue an ultimatum to Russia, demanding that it stop attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine within 24 hours, otherwise promising to lift restrictions on the use of long-range weapons and begin deliveries of Taurus.