German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, on Wednesday, said Germany is no longer ruling out supplying Ukraine with long-range Taurus cruise missiles.
“Of course, it’s within the realm of possibility,” he said during a broadcast on ZDF, one of Germany’s main public television broadcasters.
Merz said his priority is strengthening Ukraine’s military as quickly as possible as Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine – now in its third year – continues.
The Chancellor confirmed that Germany is closely coordinating with European partners, some of whom have already supplied Ukraine with long-range cruise missiles.
Former Chancellor Olaf Scholz had repeatedly rejected transferring Taurus missiles to Ukraine, stressing that Germany wouldn’t authorize strikes deep into Russian territory.
However, that stance shifted after Merz took office in May. He declared that Berlin would “do everything possible” to continue supporting Ukraine.
On Monday, Merz confirmed that Germany, the UK, France, and the US had already lifted restrictions on the range of weapons being delivered to Ukraine.
On Wednesday, he said that Berlin will help Kyiv develop long-range weapons – with production to take place “both in Ukraine and here in Germany.”
Merz made the announcement at a joint press conference during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s surprise visit to Berlin.
“There will be no range restrictions, allowing Ukraine to fully defend itself, even against military targets outside its own territory,” he said.