Former German president calls for stronger defence support for Ukraine

Former German President Joachim Gauck has criticized Berlin for failing to supply Ukraine with Taurus cruise missiles, arguing that such weapons are essential for the country’s defence, ntv reports.

Gauck highlighted the disparity in military power, noting that Russia continues to display its full arsenal while Ukraine is often perceived internationally as a potential threat to peace. “Ukraine should have access to weapons like the Taurus missiles,” he said.

The Ukrainian government first requested the delivery of these missiles from Germany several years ago. At the time, former Chancellor Olaf Scholz rejected the request, citing the risk of escalation, whereas his successor, Friedrich Merz, has not ruled out supplying the weapons.

Gauck stressed that this is not a matter of “military hysteria,” yet he insisted that Germany must substantially bolster its defence capabilities, warning that Russian President Vladimir Putin “relies on Western weakness and leverages threats to erode its determination.”

By Vafa Guliyeva