Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is seeking advanced German Taurus cruise missiles to bolster Ukraine's defense against Russian aggression.

At a recent meeting in Kyiv with Acting Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Zelenskyy articulated his expectations regarding the potential delivery of these missiles by Friedrich Merz, a frontrunner for the Chancellorship in Germany after Olaf Scholz.

When asked if he anticipated a swift decision on Taurus deliveries under a possible Merz administration, Zelenskyy stated, 'We will work on it.' He emphasized that discussions are ongoing but refrained from providing specific details until after Merz assumes office.

Zelenskyy confirmed his hopes for the delivery, describing them as 'a little more than hope.'

Baerbock, on her part, indicated that as an outgoing minister, she could not preempt the new government's decisions.

Nonetheless, she remarked on the CDU's consistent emphasis in the Bundestag regarding the necessity of supplying long-range weapons to Ukraine.

In late February, Merz left open the question of whether his government would comply with Ukraine's requests for Taurus missiles.

He stressed that Ukraine must acquire the systems necessary for its defense, which could include cruise missiles, but acknowledged a need for alignment with European allies regarding the specific systems to be provided.

At the same time, he advised against Germany becoming a direct participant in the conflict, stating, 'Germany must not become a party to the war.'

Chancellor Olaf Scholz has firmly opposed the provision of Taurus missiles to Ukraine, citing fears of Germany being drawn deeper into the conflict.

In a related context, President Zelenskyy accused Russia of violating a previously agreed ceasefire concerning energy infrastructure during Baerbock's visit.

He called for more robust sanctions from the United States, stating, 'I believe we have reached a point for tightening sanctions,' and insisted that Russia is not honoring its commitments to the U.S. regarding the ceasefire.

Zelenskyy mentioned that Ukraine provides the U.S. with daily updates on Russian ceasefire violations, underscoring the Ukrainian commitment to not targeting energy facilities.

Conversely, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov countered that Russia adheres to the agreement and accused Ukraine of continued assaults on Russian energy installations.

Moscow claims it has submitted a list of Ukraine's alleged violations of the ceasefire to the United States and the United Nations, asserting that Ukraine has breached the agreement by attacking energy infrastructure.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin had reached an accord on March 18, determining that Russia would cease attacks on Ukrainian energy concerns, with Putin confirming that a command issued that night remains in effect.

Meanwhile, the U.S. and Russia are preparing another meeting at the level of their foreign ministries to address obstacles to normalizing relations, although specific details regarding the time and place have not been disclosed.

Lavrov suggested that there have been some advances in discussions, highlighting that Russia has proposed measures to resuscitate the Black Sea Initiative aimed at preventing military escalation in the region, allowing for the unhindered transport of agricultural products.

These developments occur amidst ongoing concerns over essential Western sanctions against Russia, which Lavrov indicated would need to be lifted to achieve the proposed facilitation of Russian access to international ports and trade.