Germany’s new chancellor-in-waiting has indicated he is willing to give Ukraine long-range missiles capable of striking Russian targets in Crimea. Friedrich Merz emphasised the need for Kyiv to turn the war from a reactive one to a proactive one, saying it must “shape events” to “get ahead of the situation.” But the idea is likely to anger US President Donald Trump, who vowed to broker a peace treaty in Ukraine and needs to achieve a quick settlement.
The idea of giving Ukraine Taurus long-range missiles was repeatedly blocked by outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz for fear that it would escalate matters. Crucially, the missile – which boasts a range of 300 miles – will be able to strike the 12-mile Kerch Bridge, built by Russian forces after they seized Crimea in 2014 and a vital supply route for troops, supplies and equipment.
“If things continue as they are – if, for example, the most important land connection between Russia and Crimea is destroyed, or if something happens on Crimea itself, where most of the Russian military logistics are located – then that would be an opportunity to bring this country strategically back into the picture finally,” Merz told a German broadcaster.
Ukraine already has long-range missiles, including ATACMS supplied by Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden, Storm Shadow provided by the Briton, and their French equivalent, SCALP.
Besides its range, Taurus, which was co-developed with Sweden, also possesses an intelligent warhead system that can inflict huge damage to structures such as bridges and bunkers.
Both Washington and London eventually allowed Kyiv to use their systems to strike targets within Russian-occupied territory, including Crimea, and the bridge has been targeted by Ukraine many times, suffering heavy damage in strikes in October 2022 and July 2023.
Losing control of occupied Crimea has long been considered a “red line” for Putin.
Late last year, the Biden administration and the UK also allowed strikes with long-range missiles against military targets on Russian soil, particularly border regions of Kursk and Bryansk.
“Our European partners are already supplying cruise missiles,” Merz said, adding ”If it is coordinated, then Germany should participate in it.”
He condemned Russia’s Sunday attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy, which killed at least 34 civilians and injured more than 100, calling it “a deliberate and intentional serious war crime.”
And he warned that Moscow interprets calls for peace as a sign of weakness, adding: “I say to all those in Germany who naively call on (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to come to the negotiating table – this is the answer – that’s what Putin does to those who talk to him about a ceasefire.
“He obviously interprets our willingness to talk not as a serious offer to facilitate peace but as weakness,” he said, referring to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s visit to Moscow last year, which was followed days later by a missile strike on a children’s hospital in Kyiv.
Trump’s decision for the US to resume direct talks with Moscow has pierced the bubble of isolation imposed on the Russian leader following its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
However, efforts to broker a peace deal seem to have stalled, after Putin rejected a proposal by Washington and Kyiv for a full 30-day truce and continued in deadly attacks against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure despite a partial ceasefire agreed upon on March 25.
Merz added: “At some point, [Putin] must recognise the hopelessness of this war, which means we have to help Ukraine.”