The German chancellor candidate is ready to supply Taurus to Ukraine under certain conditions

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz sticks to his “no” on the issue of long-range Taurus deliveries to Ukraine. CDU leader Friedrich Merz, on the other hand, is open to this idea. However, according to him, further steps must be taken first, says the chancellor candidate from the CDU. Ntv writes about it, transmits it UNN.

Details

CDU leader Friedrich Mertz is ready to supply Ukraine with long-range Taurus cruise missiles – but only under certain conditions. “I wouldn’t do it just like that,” Mertz said on the air of the ARD program “Caren Miosga”.

“I would say: if the bombing (Russian ed.) does not stop, then the first step will be to remove the restrictions on the firing range. And the second step will be the supply of Taurus,” the politician said. But he added: “And then (Russian President Vladimir) Putin will decide how far he wants to go in escalating this war.”

According to Mertz, the coalition government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz does not have a strategic vision of policy options for Ukraine. The government lets Putin know all the details. He has even argued publicly about his differing positions on specific next steps.

Mertz emphasized that the decision to supply Taurus should be made at the European level. Europe urgently needs to become more independent from the US in matters of assistance to Ukraine in the interests of general security. In connection with the possible victory of the Republican Donald Trump in the presidential elections in the USA in early November, Europe needs to urgently prepare for a leading role.

Merz has announced that he will advocate for a significant increase in defense spending during the upcoming election campaign for the Bundestag. “We have to do it,” Mertz said. “The budget (of the Bundeswehr) should grow.” Billions from special funds for the Bundeswehr will be spent no later than 2028. In 2029, it will be necessary to fill a deficit of 30 billion euros.

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