The Kremlin criticised Germany's chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz on Monday over comments suggesting Germany might send Taurus long-range missiles to Ukraine. Merz, asked by German public broadcaster ARD on Sunday if he would supply Kyiv with Taurus missiles, said he would consider it if it were part of a wider package of support agreed with European allies. Germany has been one of Ukraine's main military backers, granting roughly 7.1 billion euros in military assistance in 2024 alone, according to government data.