Merz receives invitation for dialogue with Putin, as Putin issues a stern warning to Germany
Putin Warns Germany: Delivering Taurus Missiles to Ukraine Could Cause "Serious Damage" to German-Russian Relations
Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his readiness to chat with Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz, should the latter choose to initiate a conversation. But he cautioned that delivering the Taurus cruise missile to Ukraine could lead to "very serious damage" in German-Russian relations.
In a conversation at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin addressed Merz for the first time since the latter assumed the Chancellorship in May. Despite not having had contact yet, Merz has frequently urged Putin to declare a ceasefire in Russia's war against Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the German government has maintained a cautious stance regarding Taurus missiles. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius confirmed in June that Germany is not considering handing over these missiles to Ukraine at the moment [3]. This stance adheres to a policy under former Chancellor Olaf Scholz, despite the lifting of restrictions on weapons delivered to Ukraine by Germany and its allies [5].
Putin has strongly emphasized that supplying Taurus missiles would significantly damage bilateral relations with Germany. He argues that such action would be seen as a hostile act exacerbating the conflict and widening the divide between Germany and Russia, thereby undermining Germany’s role as a neutral mediator [1][4].
If Germany were to deliver Taurus missiles, it could result in a significant deterioration in the already fragile German-Russian relationship, with increased geopolitical tension being a likely outcome [1][4]. As Germany continues to support Ukraine militarily, this delicate balancing act risks further provoking harsh diplomatic retaliation from Russia.
So, while there are no plans in place as of now, the potential consequences of supplying Taurus missiles to Ukraine are serious indeed. Thus, the German government must tread lightly to avoid exacerbating the conflict and maintaining the stability of bilateral relations with Russia.
The possibility of Germany delivering Taurus missiles to Ukraine, as cautioned by Putin, could escalate the existing tensions in German-Russian relations, given the implications in war-and-conflicts politics. This delicate decision, if made, might stir conflict between Germany's general news roles as a neutral mediator and its support for Ukraine, potentially leading to significant consequences in the relations.
