Call for Urgent Delivery of Taurus Missiles to Ukraine

In a recent open letter addressed to Friedrich Merz, the leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the expected new Chancellor of Germany, Andrij Melnyk, the former Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, has made a strong appeal for the expedited delivery of 150 Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. Melnyk emphasized the importance of this delivery, urging Merz to announce this action in the Bundestag on May 6, the day he is anticipated to take office.

Melnyk's call comes as Merz has indicated a willingness to consider supplying these long-range missiles to Ukraine, although he has stated that any such decision would require coordination with European partners. Melnyk, however, contends that immediate action is necessary and that the provision of these missiles should not be contingent upon discussions with allies or conditions set by Russia.

According to Melnyk, the Taurus missile system, which has been utilized by the German Air Force since 2005, is crucial in countering the ongoing Russian offensive. He highlighted that the German military had previously ordered 600 of these missiles, each costing approximately one million euros. Melnyk argued that the effective use of the Taurus systems would also necessitate the transfer of 30% of Germany's available combat aircraft and helicopters to Ukraine, including around 45 Eurofighters and 30 Tornados.

Melnyk described Merz's potential leadership as a pivotal moment, asserting that the future of both Ukraine and Europe depends on the actions of the new Chancellor. He believes that Merz has a unique opportunity to position Germany as a leading advocate for democracy on the global stage.

The current Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has expressed reservations about supplying Taurus missiles, citing concerns that such a move could embroil Germany directly in the conflict. The Taurus missile boasts a range of up to 500 kilometers, enabling Ukraine to strike targets deep within Russian territory. In contrast, the United States has provided Ukraine with shorter-range ATACMS missiles capable of reaching up to 300 kilometers, while France and the UK have supplied missiles with ranges of approximately 250 kilometers.