**Ukrainian Diplomat Calls on Germany’s Incoming Chancellor to Take Decisive Action Against Russia**
Andrii Melnyk, a Ukrainian diplomat, has written an open letter to Germany’s incoming chancellor, Friedrich Merz, urging him to take immediate and decisive action against Russia. In the letter, published in Die Welt, a German national daily newspaper, Melnyk calls on Merz to deliver 150 Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, alongside a broader set of actions to stop Russia’s full-scale war.
**A Decisive Role for Germany**
Melnyk emphasizes that Germany has a crucial role to play in stopping the murder and bringing about a just peace. He notes that not only does the future of the Federal Republic depend on Merz’s success as chancellor, but also the fate of Ukraine and the whole of Europe.
**Five Steps for Merz**
In the letter, Melnyk outlines five steps that Merz should take during his first 100 days in office. Firstly, he proposes a coalition decision to allocate 0.5% of Germany’s GDP annually, around 21.5 billion euros per year, or 86 billion euros by 2029, for arms supplies to Ukraine. This funding would go towards the production of advanced weapons in both Germany and Ukraine, which Melnyk calls “a huge investment in Germany’s security”.
**A Broader Commitment**
Melnyk also calls for the same 0.5% commitment to be adopted at the EU and G7 levels, excluding the United States. He estimates that this would result in a massive 550-billion-euro investment in Ukraine’s defense over the next four years, which he believes would send a powerful message to Moscow.
**A Message to Putin**
Melnyk emphasizes that this mega-commitment would be a huge warning signal to Putin that Germany and its allies are serious about supporting Ukraine. He writes, “This will impress Putin.”
**Immediate Delivery of Taurus Missiles**
One of the most urgent demands in the letter is the immediate announcement and implementation of Taurus missile deliveries. Melnyk notes that this election promise must be fulfilled, despite expected resistance from the Social Democratic Party (SPD). He adds that Germany does not need “coordination with partners” or to issue ultimatums to the Kremlin.
**A Change in Course**
The outgoing German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has repeatedly blocked the delivery of Taurus missiles over concerns about escalation. Merz, however, has been critical of this position and advocated for Ukraine’s ability to strike strategically. In an interview on April 13, Merz suggested that the long-range missiles could be used to target strategic Russian military infrastructure in occupied Crimea.
**Support from the UK**
The Telegraph reported on April 16 that the U.K. would support a potential German decision to send Taurus missiles to Ukraine. Melnyk concludes by urging Merz to push for the confiscation of 200 billion euros in frozen Russian assets and use the funds for Ukraine’s reconstruction.
As the situation in Ukraine continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how Germany’s new chancellor will respond to these demands. One thing is certain: the eyes of Europe are on Germany, and the world waits with bated breath for decisive action against Russia.
