German Bundestag member Roderich Kiesewetter from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has urged Berlin to begin training Ukrainian troops in the use of Taurus cruise missiles. Speaking to the broadcaster Deutschlandfunk, he argued that such a step would serve as a political signal to Moscow, underscoring Germany’s readiness to deepen its support for Kiev.

At the same time, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service claimed that Chancellor Friedrich Merz had ordered efforts to conceal Berlin’s role in the delivery of Taurus missiles to Ukraine. According to the agency, factory markings were being removed from the munitions and certain components replaced to make it harder to trace their origin.

Moscow maintains that continued arms transfers to Kiev obstruct any chance of a negotiated settlement and directly draw NATO countries into the conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has repeatedly stressed that any shipments of weaponry destined for Ukraine will be treated as legitimate military targets by Russia’s armed forces.