Selenskyj in Berlin: German help in rocket construction instead of taurus delivery

Germany has guaranteed the Ukraine supported by Russia to produce far -reaching rockets. “We want to enable far -reaching weapons. We also want to enable joint production,” said Chancellor Friedrich Merz after a meeting with the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj in Berlin. Defense Minister of both countries, Boris Pistorius and Rustem Umjerow, met a specific agreement on the armaments cooperation during the visit.

Ukraine needs the far -reaching weapons to attack Russian airfields or post -drawers far behind the front – even on the Russian territory. The delivery of German Taurus marching aircraft to Ukraine becomes less likely with the German production aid for Ukrainian weapons – but it is not from the table.

What kind of weapons are it about?

It is about weapons of greater reach such as marching missiles and other rockets that can hit the destinations of several hundred kilometers. So far, three countries have delivered such weapons to Ukraine of the western alliance partners of Ukraine: Great Britain, France and the USA – Germany. Selenskyj already applied two years ago to the government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) with a range of 500 kilometers. Scholz did not want to deliver him because he feared that Germany would be drawn into war.

How does Merz feel about Taurus?

As the opposition leader, CDU boss Merz of Ukraine has promised the precision weapon with which even destinations in Moscow could be hit. Since he has been leading a government with the SPD, he has become more reserved and has also prompted that individual weapons systems will no longer be spoken publicly. An agreement with the coalition partner on Taurus is difficult to imagine. The support of the Ukrainian production is now the way out of the dilemma.

Does Ukraine already produce such weapons?

Yes. The Ukrainian weapon with the greatest destructive power has so far been the anti-ship rocket R-360 Neptune, with which the Russian cruiser “Moskwa” was sunk in the Black Sea in 2022. Selenskyj said this March that the further development of Neptune MD had a range of 1000 kilometers. According to the Department of Department of 2024, there is series production. The marching aircraft is now also used against goals on land. In March a Neptune met the refinery in the Russian city of Tuapse on the Black Sea.

Ukraine also has its own rocket HRIM-2 (German: Donner-2). At 450 kilometers, it flies a little less than the Taurus. The rocket Korschun and other weapons of different ranges are under development.

What exactly will the German support look like?

Selenskyj said that it was about financing existing projects in Ukraine. Merz explained that there will also be a collaboration at an industrial level, which could take place both in Ukraine and in Germany. Until further notice, you will not give any further details. Merz said: “But assume that the refusal of the Russian side of having talks, the refusal to comply with a ceasefire, now really has consequences.”

How quickly can German weapons aid work?

The Ministry of Defense announced that “a considerable number of far -reaching weapons” could be produced this year. “The first of these systems can be used in the Ukrainian armed forces in a few weeks.” Since the systems have already been introduced in the Ukrainian armed forces, it does not require any additional training. This argument is also listed in the federal government for production aid and against Taurus delivery.

How are the weapons used?

Without a reach and thus also against Russian territory. Merz had already made it clear on Monday that from a German perspective there was no longer any restrictions.

Has the Taurus debate dealing with it?

No. Ukraine continues to penetrate this weapon. When asked whether the Ukrainian army continues to need Taurus, Selenskyj said at the press conference with Merz: “As far as your question concerns with regard to far -reaching weapons, which creates Germany or other countries – of course we will need this, of course we will discuss this topic.”

This is rather unlikely. With the support of Ukrainian production, he takes the pressure from the Taurus debate. And against the will of his coalition partner, he would not deliver Taurus either. However, he will not take this option off the table for strategic reasons. He wants to leave Russia about it.

What can Taurus do, what the Ukrainian weapons can’t do?

According to military expert Fabian Hoffmann, 80 to 90 percent of Russian goals can be successfully combated with the Ukrainian weapons. The western marching aircraft were particularly suitable for particularly strongly protected or buried goals, he writes on the platform X. “In particular, Taurus is ideal for the destruction of destinations such as the Kertsch Bridge due to its highly effective striking battle head and its programmable detonator.” The bridge connects the Crimea peninsula annexed by Russia with the Russian mainland and is particularly important.

What does Russia say about the Merz expressions?

Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskow accused him of provoking the continuation of the war with his statements: “This is nothing more than an attempt to force the Ukrainians to continue fighting,” he said about the planned help for rocket production. Berlin also torpedo the efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

What about the diplomatic efforts?

He continues to support you without restrictions. In the past few days, however, he has expressed strong doubts about an early solution at the negotiating table. As a rule, wars came to an end through economic or military exhaustion, one of the two sides or on both sides, he said when he visited Finland. “We are obviously far from that in this war. That’s why I expect that we may have to be in a long time.”