German chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz confirmed in Kyiv his readiness to support the transfer of Taurus missiles to Ukraine.

The candidate for Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, has reaffirmed the Christian Democratic Union's steadfast position regarding the transfer of long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine. The politician also emphasized that Ukraine's victory is crucial for ending the war. He made this statement during a meeting in Kyiv.

This marks Merz's second visit to Ukraine since the onset of the full-scale war. Volodymyr Zelensky and Friedrich Merz discussed increasing military aid funding for Ukraine for the next year. According to the Ukrainian president, this is critically necessary for protecting lives in Ukraine. The country suffers daily from Russian strikes, and every expression of support saves lives. An increase in aid also directly strengthens Ukraine's position for achieving a just and reliable peace. One of the key topics of the meeting was the Victory Plan. The parties agreed that Ukraine could be bolstered by long-range capabilities and an invitation to NATO, and that achieving a just peace would impact global security.

"We expect more decisive actions from Germany and personally from you, especially regarding missiles and support for Ukraine's NATO invitation," Zelensky stated, addressing the politician.

Merz, for his part, confirmed that his stance on the missile issue remains unchanged. The politician stressed that President Zelensky is aware of the CDU's position on the Taurus missiles. As of early December 2024, it has not changed. However, there is a fundamental consensus regarding the provision of assistance to end the war and establish a just peace.

"Our faction's position is clear: we want to give your Armed Forces the ability to reach military targets—not civilian populations and infrastructure—so that you can target the objectives from which the war against your country is being conducted. I mentioned this a few weeks ago in the Bundestag. By limiting the range of weapons, we force you to fight with one hand tied behind your back," he emphasized.

Earlier, upon arriving in Kyiv on Monday, December 9, Merz stated that the war must end as soon as possible. For this to happen, Ukraine must have the ability to defend itself, as only then will the Kremlin be ready for negotiations.

The Issue of Transferring Taurus to Ukraine

In Germany, the Free Democratic Party (FDP) is calling for the urgent discussion in the Bundestag regarding the dispatch of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who has been opposed to sending them, is now isolated, and his influence has waned. Germany has fallen behind all its allies in terms of assistance to Ukraine.

Previously, in Berlin, some reasons were cited that allegedly hindered the transfer of long-range German missiles to Ukraine. These included the impossibility of using the system without direct involvement of Bundeswehr personnel.