Taurus Missiles in Kiev: Merz's Strategic Turn, Irritation of the Kremlin

Berlin is approaching a turning point in its policy of military support for Ukraine. Chancellor-designate Friedrich Merz, leader of the CDU and probable successor to Olaf Scholz, has opened up the possibility of providing the Taurus cruise missiles all’esercito ucraino, rompendo di fatto con l’approccio cautious and wait-and-see of the outgoing government. In an interview with the broadcaster ARD, April 13th, Merz argued that Ukraine can no longer limit itself to reacting to Russian attacks, but must be placed in the condition of “shaping events” and regain the strategic initiative. The Taurus, a long-range air-to-surface missile equipped with stealth technology and designed to strike with extreme precision protected targets such as bunkers and underground command centers, would be a key asset in achieving this goal.
The Christian Democrat leader explicitly indicated the Kerch Bridge, which connects Russia to Crimea occupied, as one of the potential targets. “If, for example, the most important land connection between Russia and Crimea was destroyed, or if something directly hit Crimea – where much of Russia's military logistics is concentrated – then this would be a strategic opportunity to bring Ukraine back to a position of strength,” Merz said.

War Crime in Sumy, Harsh Response to Peace Activists

Merz's statement comes just days after the Russian missile attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy, in which they were killed at least 34 civilians and over 100 were injured. Merz called the action “a deliberate and intentional war crime”. Addressing German peace circles, he harshly stated: “To those in Germany who naively ask to speak with Putin, here is the answer: this is what he does to those who propose a truce.”
Ukrainian envoy for Crimea Olha Kuryshko recalled how the peninsula, after the occupation in 2014, was transformed into a gigantic military base. Attack strategic infrastructures such as the Kerch Bridge, already badly damaged on at least two occasions in 2022 and 2023, would therefore have a significant impact on the operational capacity of Russian forces in the region.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has reacted furiously. The vice-president of the Russian Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, personally attacked Merz, evoking the Nazi past of the German politician's father and accusing him of wanting to foment a direct war between Germany and Russia: “Think twice, Nazi!”, he wrote on X.

Taurus, the weapon that can change the war

The Taurus KEPD 350, developed by Germany and Sweden, weighs approximately 1,400 kg, has a head of 480 kg and a higher autonomy than 500 km. It is able to sailing at low altitudes, evade radar and penetrate fortified structures thanks to the warhead MEPHISTO, designed for explode in depth. Compared to missiles SCALP e Storm Shadow, already supplied by France and the United Kingdom, the Taurus represents a leap in quality for its penetration capacity and precision. Precisely for this reason it would be particularly effective against the kerch bridge, where previous attacks they did not cause permanent damage.
L’apertura di Merz alla fornitura dei Taurus potrebbe segnare l’inizio di una nuova fase della guerra, in cui gli alleati occidentali non solo sostengono la resistenza ucraina, ma forniscono i mezzi per colpire i punti vitali dello sforzo bellico russo. Tuttavia, il rischio di ulteriore escalation resta presente.
In the background, in fact, diplomacy is also moving: the US president Donald Trump criticized the Biden administration's hard line and reopened a direct channel with Moscow. But negotiations are stalled, after the Kremlin rejected the 30-day ceasefire proposal put forward by Washington and Kyiv, continuing the attacks despite the partial truce in force since March 25.
The dilemma between deterrence and escalation, realpolitik and principle, remains at the centre of the European scene. But one thing is certain: With Merz at the helm, Germany looks set to break the Taurus taboo.

Source: https://kyivindependent.com/merz-signals-ukraine-could-use-taurus-missiles-to-target-crimea-kerch-bridge/