Next German Chancellor ready to arm Ukraine with Taurus missiles

He noted that other countries, including the United Kingdom, France and the United States, are already providing Ukraine with cruise missiles and that "Germany should also join these efforts" after reaching an agreement.

Merz stressed the need for the Ukrainian army to move from a purely defensive posture to a more active role.

"For three years, the Ukrainian armed forces have only been able to react. It is time for them to be able to determine some of what happens," he said, citing key land routes between Russia and occupied Crimea as potential targets for the missiles.

During the election campaign, Merz repeatedly reiterated his support for the delivery of German Taurus missiles to Ukraine.

On Feb. 23, the alliance of the Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU), headed by Merz, won the snap Bundestag elections.

On Feb. 25, the CDU/CSU parliamentary group nearly unanimously re-elected Merz as its leader. The CDU/CSU leader also said that Germany’s new government should be formed by Easter—around April 20.