The war in Ukraine has become deeply intertwined with the shifting political dynamics in other countries, particularly in the US and European countries.
With mid-term elections expected in March in Germany following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz-led coalition government, the question of to what extent Berlin should support beleaguered Ukraine has once again come to the forefront.
Friedrich Merz, Germany’s main opposition leader and chancellor candidate, has now promised to issue a 24-hour ultimatum to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“If elected, I will issue an ultimatum to Putin to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours. If he does not agree, I will supply Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles and give permission to strike on Russian territory,” stated Merz in an interview with Stern, a Hamburg-based news outlet.
Merz did not rule out the possibility of a direct phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Germany’s Political Crisis
While Merz’s position contrasts sharply with that of current German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who has been adamant about not supplying Ukraine with Taurus missiles, the political situation in Germany is rapidly evolving.
On September 14, Scholz reiterated his opposition, stating, “Despite many calls, I will not supply Ukraine with cruise missiles that could reach Moscow. I assure you, I will stand by this position.”
However, following the dismissal of Finance Minister Christian Lindner on November 6, which sparked a series of resignations from other ministers, Germany’s ruling coalition effectively collapsed. As a result, early general elections are now expected to take place in March 2025.
Russia’s Response
In response to Merz’s remarks, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev dismissed them as mere “electioneering,” arguing that the Taurus missiles “cannot significantly alter the course of military operations.”
Following the former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent re-election, Medvedev accused European leaders of escalating the Ukraine conflict. He warned that European politicians were eager to push the conflict into an “irreversible phase” and cautioned against allowing Kyiv to use Western long-range missiles to target Russia.
Medvedev previously said, “Trump’s win would likely be bad news for Ukraine.” Notably, Trump, a Republican, has often criticized the scale of Western aid to Kyiv and has pledged to end the conflict quickly, though he has not specified his approach.
Moscow has repeatedly cautioned against delivering long-range missiles to Kyiv, even as Russia continues its long-range missile attacks on Ukrainian cities.
Ukrainian Response
Ukraine, for its part, has expressed strong interest in acquiring long-range missiles. Ukrainian adviser Anton Gerashchenko tweeted that Russia’s discomfort with any talk of long-range weapons for Ukraine indicates their strategic importance.
“The speed of the Russian reaction is a good indicator that long-range weapons used on Russian territory will, in fact, be significant in the course of the war,” Gerashchenko noted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
German-Origin Taurus KEPD-350 Missiles
The Taurus KEPD-350 missile is one of the most advanced weapon systems in the German military, known as the Bundeswehr—a collective term referring to Germany’s army, navy, and air force.
Developed in the mid-1990s, the Taurus is a precision-guided, long-range air-to-surface cruise missile created through a collaboration between Germany’s LFK (now MBDA Deutschland) and Sweden’s Saab Bofors Dynamics.
Weighing 1,400 kg and measuring about 5.1 meters in length, the Taurus missile is highly versatile, designed to be launched from multiple platforms. It can travel at speeds up to 1,170 km/h (727 mph), close to the speed of sound, and strike targets as far as 500 kilometers (310 miles) away.
Equipped with a dual-stage warhead called MEPHISTO, the missile is engineered to penetrate “high-value” hardened targets like bunkers, underground facilities, and enemy command posts before detonating. Its design allows it to pierce multiple reinforced concrete walls. When it reaches its target, the missile climbs steeply and then hits from above in a vertical nosedive.
Powered by a turbofan engine, the missile achieves subsonic speeds while maintaining high fuel efficiency. It flies at an altitude of just 35 meters, making it nearly invisible to radar detection.
The Taurus missile has a sophisticated guidance system that integrates GPS, Inertial Navigation System (INS), and Terrain Contour Matching (TERCOM) technologies. This ensures precise targeting, even in GPS-denied environments. Its low radar cross-section and advanced countermeasures safeguard it from interception.
Reports indicate that between 150 and 300 of the Bundeswehr’s 600 Taurus missiles could be quickly made ready for use, with each missile costing around €1 million ($1.1 million).
For Ukraine, these missiles could be pivotal in targeting Russian positions deep behind the front lines, including key infrastructure in Russian-occupied Crimea.
Germany: Europe’s Largest Military Aid Supplier To Ukraine
Germany has become Ukraine’s largest military aid supplier in Europe, surpassing Britain, but the country’s political crisis and plans to reduce defense spending in 2025 have raised concerns about future support.
Despite these challenges, a recent Reuters report suggests that Germany will likely fulfill most of its promised US$4.3 billion aid package to Ukraine, even if the 2025 budget is delayed due to the collapse of the German government.
Notably, South Korea, which has expressed concern about North Korea’s involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war, also possesses Taurus missiles.
In October, the South Korean Air Force conducted a live-fire drill using the German-origin missile.
Recently, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol indicated that the country is not ruling out the possibility of providing weapons directly to Ukraine, especially in light of North Korea’s deployment of troops to support Russia in the conflict.
South Korean officials are particularly concerned about potential weapons technology transfers from Russia and the possibility of Moscow offering defense support to North Korea, especially in the event of conflict on the Korean Peninsula.
There are also fears that North Korea could benefit from financial assistance and technological support for its missile and nuclear programs.
The Impact Of Shifting Global Politics On The Russia-Ukraine War
Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened NATO countries with war if their missiles target Russian territory. Meanwhile, one thing is clear… Whether it’s the shift in power in the US from President Biden to President-elect Donald Trump or the early elections in Germany, it is evident that Ukraine’s reliance on these nations—and the resulting impact on its ongoing conflict with Russia—is becoming increasingly apparent.
- Shubhangi Palve is a defense and aerospace journalist. Before joining the EurAsian Times, she worked for ET Prime. In this capacity, she focused on covering defense strategies and the defense sector from a financial perspective. She offers over 15 years of extensive experience in the media industry, spanning print, electronic, and online domains.
- Contact the author at shubhapalve (at) gmail.com
- Contact EurAsian Times at editor (at) eurasiantimes.com
