German defence expert urges Merz to change Ukraine policy if elected

German defence expert Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann from the liberal Free Democratic Party wants Friedrich Merz, the conservative politician seeking to become chancellor, to overhaul Germany's Ukraine policy if he wins, reported dpa.

"Friedrich Merz now has the chance to become a great chancellor if he does the opposite of what [German Chancellor] Olaf Scholz is doing," Strack-Zimmermann from the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) said in an interview for a podcast with the Funke Group.

Strack-Zimmermann argued that this opportunity for change extends beyond Ukraine policy, touching on Germany's economic strategy and other critical areas. She expressed her curiosity about whether Merz will have the courage to take bold action, warning that failing to do so could have "historically dramatic" consequences.

German voters go to the polls on February 23 in an election that will determine who will be the next chancellor. Merz is seen by many as the candidate most likely to become the country's next chancellor.

Strack-Zimmermann, who serves as chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence in the European Parliament, has long advocated for more military support for Ukraine, including the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles.

However, Chancellor Scholz has resisted this call, unwilling to relax the rules on the use of German weapons in Ukraine's defence against Russia.

Scholz had accused Merz of taking a risky line on Ukraine policy, and suggested Merz's stance in favour of delivering long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine risked an escalation with the nuclear power Russia.

"I can only say be careful: you don't play Russian roulette with Germany's security," said Scholz.