Merz’s openness to Taurus deliveries is well received in the EU

Luxembourg (dpa) – EU Chief Diplomat Kaja Kallas welcomes the further openness of the likely future German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for a delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine.

“Of course, every member state gives what it can, but I think the message is very clear,” said the EU foreign affairs representative at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg, a day after a severe attack by Russia on the city of Sumy that resulted in more than 30 deaths. “We need to do more to enable Ukraine to defend itself and to ensure that civilians do not have to die,” she responded to a question about Merz’s statements.

During his time as an opposition politician, Merz had openly supported a delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. This remains the case, said the chairman of the Christian Democratic CDU over the weekend on German television.

Merz added in response to a question that he had always said he would only do this in coordination with European partners.

The Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said in Luxembourg that he considers it very important if Germany delivers Taurus cruise missiles. “I think that would be a very important signal of how Europe stands in this situation,” he said in Luxembourg. His Polish counterpart Radoslaw Sikorski called Merz’s offer “very good”.

The current German Chancellor Olaf Scholz strictly rejects a Taurus delivery to Ukraine because he fears that this could draw Germany into the war – for example, if Ukraine were to use them to strike targets deep in Russian territory. (April 14)