Germany pledged €9 billion ($10.4 billion) in aid to Ukraine for 2025, solidifying its role as a key supporter. This includes €1.9 billion ($2.2 billion) for joint German-Ukrainian military-industrial projects focusing on long-range weapons systems. While Germany declined to provide Taurus cruise missiles, further IRIS-T air defense systems will be delivered, with potential for Ukrainian production. This latest commitment adds to Germany’s existing €48 billion ($55.5 billion) total aid package since the war’s start.
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Ongoing discussions between Ukraine and Germany regarding the delivery of Taurus missiles are currently underway, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy confirmed work is progressing on this front, although specifics remain confidential per an agreement with Chancellor Merz. Merz has previously expressed openness to supplying the missiles, while the German government maintains a policy of limited public disclosure on weapons deliveries. Pressure for the missile transfer continues to mount within Germany’s ruling coalition.
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Pressure is mounting on German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to deliver Taurus long-range missiles to Ukraine, following his announcement lifting range restrictions on weapons supplied to Ukraine. Prominent CDU/CSU members, including Kiesewetter and Röwekamp, advocate for both missile delivery and training Ukrainian personnel to use them, arguing this would significantly aid Ukraine’s defense. However, critics like Hofreiter and Düring claim Merz’s statement is insufficient without concrete action, accusing him of inaction and criticizing the SPD’s hesitancy. The debate highlights a significant rift within the German government regarding further military aid to Ukraine.
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Chancellor Merz confirmed the removal of range restrictions on weapons supplied to Ukraine by Western partners, including Germany, the U.S., the U.K., and France. This allows Ukraine to strike military targets within Russia, a capability previously limited to occupied Ukrainian territory. While Ukraine now utilizes these weapons against Russian military infrastructure, Russia continues its attacks on civilian targets within Ukraine. Merz previously indicated support for supplying Taurus cruise missiles, though a decision on their delivery remains unannounced.
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Friedrich Merz, advocating for a proactive Ukrainian military stance, proposed supplying Taurus long-range missiles to strike key Russian infrastructure in Crimea, including the Kerch Bridge. This action, Merz argues, would shift the battlefield dynamic and leverage existing Western support for similar Ukrainian missile capabilities from the US, UK, and France. While Chancellor Scholz previously opposed this, Merz’s potential chancellorship makes this a likely future policy consideration, though support from coalition partners remains uncertain. Merz emphasized this is to empower Ukraine, not to involve Germany directly in combat.
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The Kremlin’s assertion that Germany risks escalating the conflict in Ukraine by supplying Taurus missiles is, frankly, rich. It’s a predictable, almost tired tactic of intimidation. This isn’t the first time we’ve heard this kind of threat from Russia, and judging by their actions on the ground – the continued bombing of civilians, the use of cluster munitions, the overall brutal conduct of the war – it seems their definition of “escalation” is rather…flexible. Let’s be clear: Russia is already escalating the conflict through its actions, and these empty threats are nothing more than a desperate attempt to maintain leverage.
The idea that sending Taurus missiles would somehow be the tipping point feels incredibly disingenuous.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood