Taurus, a modern long-range robot with a range of 50 miles, has the capacity to strike deep into Russian territory. Germany's outgoing Chancellor, Social Democrat Olaf Scholz, ruled out sending the weapon system to Ukraine, but Christian Democrat Merz is more positive.
Last week, Merz said that a delivery of Taurus to Ukraine would have to be "coordinated" with European allies, but that Germany should "participate" in such a case. He also mentioned that the Kerch Bridge, which connects Russia with the Crimean Peninsula, could be a strategically important target in such a situation.
An attack with Taurus "against all kinds of important Russian transport infrastructure" would be seen as "direct participation in the fighting by Germany", says the Russian Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Maria Zacharova.
Ukraine has previously had access to long-range systems Atacms from the USA, and Storm Shadow from the UK and France.
Taurus is co-owned by defense companies Saab and German MBDA.
