Following a recent intelligence report indicating Russia’s increased use of chemical weapons in Ukraine, German parliamentarian Roderich Kiesewetter, of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), is advocating for the expedited delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. Speaking to the Handelsblatt, Kiesewetter emphasized that the provision of these missiles is “overdue” to effectively disrupt Russian supply lines and strategically important targets.
CDU leader Friedrich Merz recently refrained from ruling out the provision of German Taurus missiles to Ukraine, stating it remains “an option.
Beyond the missiles, Kiesewetter is calling for an increase in Germany’s military support for Ukraine to at least 0.3% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a significant rise from the current level of below 0.1%. He also urged the German government to unequivocally support the transfer of frozen Russian assets to Ukraine.
The call for action follows a joint warning issued by several intelligence agencies, including the German Foreign Intelligence Service (BND), the Dutch Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD) and the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD). These agencies reported a concerning escalation in Russia’s use of chemical weapons in Ukraine, characterizing it as a breach of the Chemical Weapons Convention. Agencies highlighted that Russia is employing a range of chemical agents, including Chloropicrin, which was also used in World War I.
Kiesewetter criticized the current state of affairs as “embarrassing inaction” that undermines Germany’s credibility. He cautioned that Russia’s tactics align with a strategy of “maximal escalation of the war, disregarding all laws” intended to create a deterrent effect and undermine Ukrainian troops’ morale. He concluded that “concrete action” from Germany is now essential to bolster support for Ukrainian forces. Additionally, he suggested that a coalition of willing nations should consider assuming responsibility for air defense systems across certain regions of Ukraine.