German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday ruled out sending long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, marking a clear shift from his earlier support for the move.
Kyiv has repeatedly requested the German-made cruise missiles to strengthen its defence against Russia, but Berlin has long held back over fears of escalating the conflict with a nuclear-armed power.
Merz had previously backed delivering Taurus systems while in opposition. Speaking to lawmakers, however, he said his earlier position had been formed “in a different context,” adding that he had assumed the Bundeswehr held sufficient operational stock to supply Ukraine.
The chancellor’s remarks suggest that limited availability of the missiles has been a key factor behind the government’s reluctance.
Despite the decision, Germany remains one of Ukraine’s main military backers. Berlin has pledged €11.5 billion in military aid for 2026, including Iris-T air defence systems and Patriot missile batteries.
