European officials on Monday responded positively to comments by Germany’s incoming chancellor Friedrich Merz on deliveries of long-range Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine.
During his time in opposition, Merz openly supported the delivery of Taurus missiles to Ukraine – a possibility that outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz consistently ruled out, citing fears that it would draw Germany into the war.
The conservative Merz, who is set to take office as Germany’s next chancellor in May, said on Sunday that his position still stands.
Merz told the ARD public broadcaster that he does not want Germany to intervene in the war, but that Berlin should equip the Ukrainian military with weapons such as the Taurus missiles. He added that he would only grant such a shipment in coordination with European partners.
His comments came after a Russian airstrike on the north-eastern Ukrainian city of Sumy killed more than 30 people, including two children, and injured over 100 on Sunday morning.
European politicians, gathered for an EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg on Monday, welcomed Merz’s comments.
Asked about the possibility of Germany sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine, the European Union’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas said: “Of course every member state is giving what they can give.”
“But I think the message is very clear, we need to do more so that Ukraine can defend itself and the civilians don’t have to die,” Kallas said.
Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said it is very important for Germany to supply Taurus missiles. “I think that would be a very important signal of where Europe stands in this situation,” he said.
His Polish counterpart Radosław Sikorski called Merz’s offer “very good.”
Russia’s Medvedev calls Merz ‘Nazi’ over Crimea bridge comments
Merz also suggested that destroying the Russian bridge to the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea could help Kiev’s war effort, drawing sharp criticism from Moscow.
“Think twice, Nazi!” wrote former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev on X on Monday.
“Fritz Merz is haunted by the memory of his father, who served in Hitler’s Wehrmacht,” he added, using the diminutive form of Merz’s first name.
Medevedev, who now serves as the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, accused the conservative politician of seeking to escalate the war in Ukraine.
Kiev has repeatedly stated that it wants to bomb the bridge, a move that Moscow has warned against.
Further ammunition supplies for Kiev
EU foreign ministers were also discussing an initiative to provide Kiev with further artillery ammunition.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said in Luxembourg that a total of 2 million large-calibre shells are to be delivered, with Germany providing one-quarter.
On Friday, Germany’s Defence Ministry announced that Berlin would provide around 100,000 rounds of artillery ammunition.
“We will only be able to protect peace in Europe through common strength,” the outgoing minister said.
She condemned the Russian strike on Sumy, saying: “To intentionally attack civilians on Palm Sunday makes it clear that they want to destroy and not to pacify.”
Ukraine has been defending itself against Russia’s full-scale invasion since February 2022.
Read the full article here
