Zelenskyy visits Germany as Taurus missile debate intensifies over Ukraine aid

May 28, 2025 - 16:02

berlin-germany-zelensky-visit-may 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Berlin on 28 May, with his plane landing at Schönefeld Airport, according to Ukrinform.

The visit comes as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz seeks to discuss potential steps for further technical negotiations between Ukraine and Russia during their personal meeting.

The trip has sparked renewed speculation about possible delivery of Taurus missiles. These German cruise missiles can strike targets at distances of 500 kilometers. Before becoming chancellor, Merz signaled he would overturn his predecessor Olaf Scholz’s ban on delivering the missiles to Ukraine.

Kyiv has called upon Germany to provide the weapons to strike targets deep inside Russian territory. Scholz had ruled out the move due to escalation fears. Merz has not yet approved the deliveries. The Taurus missile policy has become a point of contention between the CDU/CSU and their Social Democratic coalition partners.

The German chancellor declared earlier this week that Berlin and other Western partners have lifted all range restrictions on arms provided to Ukraine. Some viewed this as a signal of an incoming policy change on Taurus missiles.

On 26 May, Merz said that weapons supplied by Germany to Ukraine no longer face range restrictions for use against Russian territory. He clarified that the US, Britain, France and Germany lifted restrictions on Ukraine’s long-range strikes against Russia several months ago.

German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil responded that the government coalition had made no new agreements about changing course on lifting restrictions for Ukraine’s long-range strikes on Russian territory.

Taurus missiles represent the only long-range German weapons Ukraine has requested from Germany. Ukraine previously received long-range missiles from the US, UK, and France. These included ATACMS, Storm Shadow, and SCALP missiles. Ukraine was initially permitted to deploy them only against Russian military forces in occupied Ukrainian territories.

In late 2024, the Biden administration and other allies eased the restrictions. This allowed Ukraine to use long-range missiles against Russian military targets on Russian territory.

Germany has been Ukraine’s leading military donor on the continent. Its support has become more crucial for Kyiv as US backing grows increasingly uncertain under President Donald Trump.

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