Merz stated that there is no point in supplying Taurus missiles to Ukraine

On March 25, 2026, during a speech in the Bundestag, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that he no longer considers it appropriate to supply Ukraine with Taurus long-range cruise missiles. 

According to n-tv, the head of government attributed the shift in his position to significant technological progress in Ukraine’s defense industry. According to Merz, Ukraine’s own long-range weapons are currently more effective than the limited number of German missiles that Berlin could provide without compromising its own defense capabilities.

Prior to his election as chancellor in 2025, Merz had repeatedly criticized the previous government for its delays and called for the immediate transfer of Taurus missiles to Kyiv. Explaining his earlier statements, the politician noted that at the time he had assumed the Bundeswehr had a sufficient number of serviceable units of this weaponry. Currently, however, Germany is focusing on funding Ukrainian production of long-range systems and purchasing artillery, which is considered a higher priority in strengthening defenses against Russian aggression.

Earlier, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Berlin aims to make the Bundeswehr the strongest conventional army in Europe as soon as possible, capable of withstanding any challenge.