Taurus Missiles to Kyiv: Merz's Strategic Shift, Kremlin's Irritation

Berlin is approaching a turning point in its military support policy for Ukraine. The designated chancellor Friedrich Merz, leader of the CDU and likely successor to Olaf Scholz, has opened up to the possibility of providing Taurus cruise missiles to the Ukrainian army, effectively breaking with the cautious and wait-and-see approach of the outgoing government. In an interview with broadcaster ARD on April 13, Merz argued that Ukraine can no longer just react to Russian attacks, but must be put in a position to “shape events” and regain strategic initiative. The Taurus, a long-range air-to-surface missile equipped with stealth technology and designed to strike extremely precisely protected targets such as bunkers and underground command centers, would be a key asset to achieve this goal.
The Christian Democratic leader explicitly pointed to the Kerch Bridge, which connects Russia to occupied Crimea, as one of the potential targets. “If, for example, the most important land connection between Russia and Crimea were destroyed, or if something directly hit Crimea – where much of the Russian military logistics is concentrated – then this would be a strategic opportunity to bring Ukraine back into a position of strength,” Merz declared.

A War Crime in Sumy, Harsh Response to Pacifists

Merz's statement comes a few days after the Russian missile attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy, in which at least 34 civilians were killed and over 100 were injured. Merz called the action a “deliberate and intentional war crime”. Addressing German pacifist circles, he harshly stated: “To those in Germany who naively ask to talk to 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 2014 occupation, was transformed into a gigantic military base. Attacking strategic infrastructures like the Kerch Bridge, already severely 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 reacted furiously. The vice president of the Russian Security Council, Dmitri 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 about 1,400 kg, has a warhead of 480 kg, and a range of over 500 km. It is capable of navigating at low altitudes, evading radar, and penetrating fortified structures thanks to the MEPHISTO warhead, designed to explode in depth. Compared to the SCALP and Storm Shadow missiles, already supplied by France and the United Kingdom, the Taurus represents a leap in quality for penetration and precision capabilities. For this reason, it would be particularly effective against the Kerch Bridge, where previous attacks did not cause permanent damage.
Merz's openness to supplying the Taurus could mark the beginning of a new phase of the war, in which Western allies not only support Ukrainian resistance but provide the means to strike vital points of the Russian war effort. However, the risk of further escalation remains present.
In the background, diplomacy is also at play: U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized the hardline of the Biden administration 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 attacks despite the partial truce in effect since March 25.
The dilemma between deterrence and escalation, realpolitik and principle, thus remains at the center of the European scene. But one thing is certain: with Merz at the helm, Germany seems intent on breaking the Taurus taboo.