But Merz’s recent statements on long-range weapons for Ukraine have sown confusion.
The backlash against Merz began on Monday after he suggested Germany and its key allies had lifted range limits on weapons sent to Ukraine.
The comments were widely interpreted to mean that Merz’s government was ready to make good on his campaign promise to provide Taurus missiles to Ukraine in addition to more robust military aid overall.
Zelenskyy has long asked that Germany provide Taurus missiles, which have a range of over 500 kilometers and carry a powerful warhead.
On Monday, Merz pledged Berlin would “do everything” to support Ukraine militarily, though it remains unclear whether the chancellor will make an announcement on Taurus missiles during Zelenskyy’s visit.
BERLIN — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz aimed to demonstrate strength in the face of Russia’s intensifying war on Ukraine during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Berlin on Wednesday.
Rather, the chancellor is facing criticism from his own people because of his ambiguous remarks this week regarding Germany’s readiness to supply Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles that have the potential to strike deep into Russian territory. That action was rejected by the previous left-leaning government in order to avoid upsetting Moscow, which possesses nuclear weapons.
Merz’s center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) senior conservative lawmaker Roderich Kiesewetter harshly criticized the chancellor for making “contradictory statements” on the subject prior to Zelenskyy’s visit.
Kiesewetter posted on X, saying, “There is no sign of Germany finally delivering Taurus cruise missiles, because I still see no unity in the coalition and no political will to respond appropriately and with strength and consistency to Russia’s massive escalation.”. As a result, these remarks are generally ineffective since they draw attention to Europe’s vulnerability to Russia. “.”.
Zelenskyy’s trip to Berlin on Wednesday could be overshadowed by the uncertainty surrounding Germany’s readiness to lend Ukraine Taurus missiles. Pressure is mounting on European leaders to come up with a firm response as Russia continues to bombard Ukraine with deadly drone and missile attacks.
However, Merz’s recent remarks regarding long-range weapons for Ukraine have caused misunderstanding.
Merz’s suggestion that Germany and its major allies had removed range restrictions on weapons sent to Ukraine sparked the backlash against him on Monday. “Army delivered to Ukraine is no longer subject to range restrictions. Not from us, not from the French, not from the British. Also not from the Americans,” Merz stated.
According to the comments, Merz’s administration was prepared to fulfill his campaign pledge to give Ukraine Taurus missiles and more substantial military assistance in general. However, Merz seemed to change his mind on Tuesday, claiming that his remarks alluded to “something that has been happening for months, namely, that Ukraine has the right to use the weapons it receives, even beyond its own borders, against military targets on Russian territory.”. “.”.
The U. A. France and the U.S. K. have all given Ukraine long-range missile systems, and last autumn, they took steps to permit Kyiv to use them to attack targets inside Russia. Talk of lifting range restrictions from Berlin is mainly academic, though, as Germany has not yet supplied long-range missiles.
Lars Klingbeil, the leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), Merz’s finance minister, denied that there had been a policy change after Merz’s initial remarks on Monday, raising the prospect of a disagreement among coalition partners on the matter. According to Klingbeil, “no new agreement goes beyond what the previous government had in place,” he told reporters.
Taurus missiles, which carry a potent warhead and have a range of more than 500 kilometers, are something Zelenskyy has long requested Germany supply. Although it’s unclear if the chancellor will announce Taurus missiles during Zelenskyy’s visit, Merz promised Monday that Berlin would “do everything” to support Ukraine militarily.
“If the system were supplied in larger numbers, Taurus could provide relief, at least in part, and thus protect the civilian population in Ukraine,” senior conservative lawmaker Kiesewetter wrote in his post on X. “In order to preserve credibility, a strong reaction against RUS is NOW NEEDED. “.”.
