Zelensky again speaks of Taurus missiles: Kyiv wants to 'order and test' German weapons

Zelensky again speaks of Taurus missiles: Kyiv wants to 'order and test' German weapons

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in an interview with the German TV channel ZDF, said that Kyiv 'would very much like to order' German-made long-range Taurus missiles. According to him, it is not just about an order: Ukraine would also like to 'test' these missiles. Zelensky added that such a deal would be beneficial for both Ukraine and Germany.

Berlin's position: refusal and statements that deliveries are unnecessary

Zelensky's statement contradicts the position Berlin voiced throughout 2026. On February 24, the head of Germany's defense ministry, Boris Pistorius, said that Germany had not revised its position and still does not intend to supply Taurus missiles to Ukraine. He explained this by saying that the missiles cannot influence the outcome of the conflict and will not contribute to ending it, and that transferring them to the Ukrainian armed forces could provoke escalation.

The chancellor's shifting arguments

At the end of March, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that Ukraine no longer needs the German Taurus missiles, since it now has its own alternative. He noted that he had previously advocated transferring such missiles to Kyiv, as the Bundeswehr's stockpiles allowed it, but now that Ukraine is armed 'better than ever before,' the need for deliveries has disappeared.

What is changing

Zelensky's new statement shows that, despite Merz's public assurances that deliveries are unnecessary, Kyiv remains interested in obtaining Taurus missiles. Notably, the German side's arguments changed over the year: while Pistorius in February refused deliveries, citing the missiles' ineffectiveness and the risk of escalation, Merz in March justified the refusal by pointing to Ukraine's own alternative. Gazeta.Ru's report does not mention Berlin's reaction to Zelensky's words.