Ukraine expects Germany to strengthen Ukraine's long-range capability

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told German chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz in Kyiv on Monday that the Ukrainian side expects Berlin to strengthen Ukraine's long-range capability.  Source: Zelenskyy, quoted by the Interfax-Ukraine news agency, as reported by European Pravda Details: The Ukrainian president thanked Germany for "the aid provided by the German government and parliamentarians, people who have been hosting Ukrainians since the beginning of the war."

At the same time, the President noted: "We are counting on the strengthening of Ukraine's long-range capability."

The Presidential Administration's press service noted that both Zelenskyy and Merz agreed that "Ukraine can be strengthened by long-range capabilities and an invitation to NATO." The statement does not explicitly mention Taurus missiles, but Ukraine has long been asking Germany to provide these long-range weapons, the idea that Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been opposing. 

Instead, Friedrich Merz, whose chances to become the next German chancellor after the February elections are recognised as very high, supports the transfer of these cruise missiles to Ukraine.

Background: 

• Recently, Scholz accused Merz of taking too many risks in supporting Ukraine, including the possible delivery of Taurus.
• Merz suggested that Scholz, together with the UK and France, should issue an ultimatum to Putin, the failure to comply with which would mean that Ukraine could be provided with Taurus.

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