Zelenskyy renews Taurus missile hopes after Merz meeting in Kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has renewed hopes for delivery of Germany's Taurus cruise missiles, stating he will "never give up" on the request after meeting Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Kyiv. Germany previously rejected the Taurus supply in May 2023 under Chancellor Olaf Scholz over escalation fears, though Merz showed openness during the 2025 election campaign. Merz pledged one billion euros for interceptor drones and longer-range weapons, but Taurus was not included. Meanwhile, Russia announced plans for harsher strikes in the war, and Ukraine reported delivering nearly four tons of aid by drone to occupied Oleshky. The Kremlin acknowledged supply shortages there, while Russian drone attacks killed at least three people in Ukrainian regions.