Moscow warns Berlin after Merz hints at Taurus long-range missiles for Ukraine
The Kremlin criticised Germany’s chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz on Monday over comments suggesting Germany might send Taurus long-range missiles to Ukraine.
Merz, asked by German public broadcaster ARD on Sunday if he would supply Kyiv with Taurus missiles, said he would consider it if it were part of a wider package of support agreed with European allies.
“This must be jointly agreed. And if it’s agreed, then Germany should take part,” said Merz, who is set to take office next month.
Germany has been one of Ukraine’s main military backers, granting roughly 7.1 billion euros in military assistance in 2024 alone, according to government data. But Berlin has never supplied Taurus missiles, which have a range in excess of 300 miles (480 km), despite Kyiv’s repeated requests.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters it was clear from his comments that Merz would advocate a “tougher position” which “will inevitably lead only to a further escalation of the situation around Ukraine”.
“Unfortunately, it’s true that European capitals are not inclined to look for ways to reach peace talks, but are rather inclined to further instigate the continuation of the war,” he told a daily briefing.
Separately, Russia said two of its Iskander-M tactical missiles had hit a meeting of Ukrainian military officers on Sunday in the city of Sumy, where Ukraine said Russian strikes had killed 34 people and wounded 117.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy demanded a tough international response against Moscow over the attack, which came as U.S. President Donald Trump struggles to make progress towards his pledge to rapidly end the war.
In an interview with CBS News’ “60 Minutes” aired on Sunday, Zelenskiy urged Trump to visit Ukraine, calling on the United States to provide forces as part of an international peacekeeping effort, especially to help protect Ukrainian airspace with aircraft.
The leaders of Britain, Germany and Italy condemned the attack. Trump, when asked about the Russian strike, said that it was terrible.
“And I was told they made a mistake,” he said without elaborating further. “But I think it’s a horrible thing.”
At his daily briefing, Peskov was asked how the Kremlin viewed Trump’s comment and whether the strike had been conducted in error.
He replied that the Kremlin did not comment on the course of the war, and this was a matter for the defence ministry.
