The leader of the German conservatives Friedrich Merz, a favorite to be the next Chancellor of Germany, said that he would work closely with Britain, France and Poland on military assistance to Ukraine, including on the issue of supplies of long-range weapons, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
Merz stressed that Berlin would strengthen cooperation with these partners, especially regarding the supply of weapons systems such as the German-made long-range Taurus missiles.
Kiev has long insisted on receiving the Taurus missiles, but Chancellor Olaf Scholz has refused to comply with the request, expressing concerns that the use of such weapons could drag Germany into a war with Russia.
Merz, whose conservative bloc is leading in opinion polls ahead of the February 23 election, has shown a willingness to take a tougher approach. He stressed that the Ukrainian army has so far "without exception and very correctly" has complied with all agreed limits on the scope of weapons provided by Western allies.
The Christian Democratic leader expressed regret that the European Union had not demonstrated sufficient strategic military unity during the three-year war in Ukraine.
Merz also rejected criticism from the leader of the German Social Democratic Party, Lars Klingbeil, who accused him of lacking a firm position on the delivery of the “Taurus“. “I have always said that we must deliver them“, Merz said, adding: “I will deliver them“.