Zelenskyy confirms Taurus missile talks with Germany ongoing Keeps details private

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that discussions on the potential supply of Taurus long-range missiles took place during his recent one-on-one meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. However, the two leaders agreed not to make the details public.

"There are certain topics that we have agreed not to discuss publicly. But I don't want to lie. We discussed the Taurus issue during a one-on-one meeting between the Chancellor and me. We are working in this direction, but I cannot disclose any details at this time. I promised this to the chancellor, and I keep my word," Zelenskyy said, Caliber.Az reports quoting Ukrainian media.

While stressing the importance of the Taurus system, Zelenskyy highlighted that it is not the only tool Ukraine requires to counter Russian aggression.

"This is not enough. We need Taurus, we need Patriot. We need to do all this and develop further. We need political pressure. We need powerful sanctions packages. We need unity between Europe and America. Without this, Russia can attack anyone. If we do not strengthen Ukraine, if we do not do this, Russia can attack others," the president stated.

Zelenskyy warned that a Ukrainian defeat could embolden Russia to impose its will on other European nations through force. He emphasised that while the Taurus system would bolster Ukraine’s defence, it alone would not be sufficient.

"But Taurus alone cannot protect any country in the world from Russia. I cannot say how many weapons there are in Europe or other countries, but I want to say this: in a month, Russia attacks Ukraine with more missiles than other countries have in stock. Every month, our civilian infrastructure is subjected to missile strikes. And, to be honest, when we talk about Taurus, yes, we would be very grateful. Believe me," he stressed.

The Ukrainian leader underlined that while specific details about Germany’s missile stockpiles or production capacities should remain confidential, the strategic message to Russia should be clear.

"The weapons don't need to be used, but knowing that they exist is important. These steps matter," Zelenskyy added.

He also revealed that Ukraine is working on developing its own long-range weapons systems but noted that international financial support is essential for expanding production. Unlike some nations, he said, Ukraine is open to sharing its technological advancements with its allies.

"We know that we need to diversify production. We cannot have only one warehouse in Ukraine because Russia can attack it. We must diversify both warehouses and production, and financing. We need different formats of long-range weapons," he explained.

Germany remains one of Ukraine’s top military aid providers. During President Zelenskyy's visit to Berlin on May 28, the two countries signed a new agreement focused on financing Ukrainian-produced long-range weapons, marking a step forward in defence cooperation. Discussions regarding the delivery of Taurus missiles, however, are still ongoing.

By Sabina Mammadli