Friedrich Merz, the German opposition leader, aligned himself with the French and British positions regarding the provision of long-range weapons for Ukraine.
According to Tagesschau, Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has denied claims that supplying Taurus missiles to Ukraine will draw Germany into war.
The Taurus KEPD 350 missile system is vital for Ukraine, as it would allow strikes against Russian military targets and supplies lines up to 500km from Ukraine. This is significantly further than Ukraine’s current strike capability.
Since approximately May 2023, Germany has refused to provide Taurus rockets to Ukraine. Scholz has repeatedly cited concerns over potential escalation, and the need to avoid direct German involvement in war by using target data and personnel requirements.
Friedrich Merz responded to Sahra Wahnknecht’s statements, in which she argued against any military assistance for Ukraine.
“The delivery Taurus is nothing but entering the war.” Merz, during an ARD broadcast, said that Wagenknecht knows this.
The CDU leader stressed that cruise missiles will enable Ukraine to defend themselves against Russia’s illegal aggression on an international level, noting that countries such as France and Great Britain already supply long-range weapons for Ukraine.
The exchange takes place amid coalition talks in Saxony-Thuringia, where Wagenknecht’s Alliance is involved, but faces difficulties due to its foreign policy demands.
Wagenknecht indirectly asked the CDU in Thuringia, to distance themselves from Merz, after Merz’s repeated calls for Taurus deliveries into Ukraine. He claimed “if we did as he requested, Germany would go to war with Russia.”
Merz proposed to Scholz that Scholz issue an ultimatum before the EU summit on October 17.
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