Friedrich Merz, who is expected to take office as German Federal Chancellor in May, said that his country should deliver long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine. In an interview with the German television ARD, he stressed that such a step should be coordinated with Kiev's other allies, News.bg reports.
“The United States delivers missiles, France delivers, Britain too - and we had to deliver“, Merz said.
The Taurus missiles have a range of up to 500 km and, according to him, would provide Ukraine with additional capabilities in its defense against Russian aggression. Current Chancellor Olaf Scholz has so far refused such a delivery, arguing that it would risk directly drawing Germany into the war, as the weapons could be used to strike deep into Russian territory.
Both Merz and Scholz condemned Russia's missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy on April 13, which killed 34 people, including two children, and injured more than 100.