Kremlin says tough line from Merz on Ukraine risks escalating war

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin criticised Germany's chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz connected Monday implicit comments suggesting Germany mightiness nonstop Taurus long-range missiles to Ukraine.

Merz, asked by German nationalist broadcaster ARD connected Sunday if helium would proviso Kyiv with Taurus missiles, said helium would see it if it were portion of a wider bundle of enactment agreed with European allies.

"This indispensable beryllium jointly agreed. And if it's agreed, past Germany should instrumentality part," said Merz, who is acceptable to instrumentality bureau adjacent month.

Germany has been 1 of Ukraine's main subject backers, granting astir 7.1 cardinal euros successful subject assistance successful 2024 alone, according to authorities data. But Berlin has ne'er supplied Taurus missiles, which person a scope successful excess of 300 miles (480 km), contempt Kyiv's repeated requests.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters it was wide from his comments that Merz would advocator a "tougher position" which "will inevitably pb lone to a further escalation of the concern astir Ukraine".

"Unfortunately, it's existent that European capitals are not inclined to look for ways to scope bid talks, but are alternatively inclined to further instigate the continuation of the war," helium told a regular briefing.

(Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Writing by Lucy Papachristou; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)