Overview

• Friedrich Merz, the incoming German Chancellor, has expressed willingness to deliver Taurus missiles to Ukraine in coordination with European allies, marking a potential policy shift.
• The Russian Foreign Ministry warns that any Ukrainian use of German-supplied Taurus missiles against Russian targets would constitute Germany's direct involvement in the conflict.
• Outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz consistently opposed such deliveries, citing fears of escalation and Germany being drawn into the war.
• The Taurus missile, with a 500-kilometer range and advanced targeting capabilities, is sought by Ukraine to strike Russian infrastructure deep in occupied territories.
• France and the UK have already supplied long-range missiles to Ukraine, with Germany now facing domestic political divisions over whether to follow suit.