German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated on Wednesday during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit that Berlin is committed to assisting Kyiv in the development of new long-range weaponry capable of striking deep within Russian territory.
Following their meeting, the defense ministers of both nations formalized a memorandum of understanding pertaining to the production of these long-range weapon systems, though they did not disclose specific technical information or the names of any manufacturers involved.
Merz emphasized at a joint press conference that “there will be no restrictions on range, enabling Ukraine to protect itself completely, including military targets outside its own borders.”
Zelensky’s trip to Berlin coincided with a period of intensified missile and drone strikes from Russia against Ukraine, as U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed increasing exasperation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Ukrainian leader accused Russia of impeding peace negotiations and asserted that Moscow was not interested in ending its three-year invasion, claiming that “they will always seek excuses to prolong the war.”
Merz commented that “the intense air assaults, especially on Kyiv over the weekend, demonstrate not a desire for peace but rather an aggressive war stance.”
“This is a direct affront to all efforts aimed at achieving a ceasefire in Ukraine, as well as in Europe and the United States,” he added.
He cautioned that “the Russian side’s unwillingness to engage in talks and to observe a ceasefire is now having real consequences, which we are confronting daily.”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded to inquiries about Merz’s announcement regarding weapons, stating, “Such actions invariably impede peace initiatives.”
Merz also highlighted reports that Russian and American investors are eager to resume gas deliveries through the damaged Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea, stating Germany would “do everything” in its power to prevent this from happening.
Taking office earlier this month, Merz has pledged to provide robust support to Ukraine, while maintaining a strategy of ambiguity regarding the specifics of the weapons being sent.
The joint development of long-range weapons “may occur both in Ukraine and in Germany,” he said, adding, “We will refrain from offering additional details for the time being.”
Merz described the initiative as “the start of a new type of military-industrial collaboration between our nations that holds great promise.”
In a television interview earlier this week, Merz noted that “as of now, no range limitations exist on the weapons being supplied to Ukraine—whether from the British, French, Americans, or ourselves.”
“This indicates that Ukraine can now safeguard itself, for instance, by targeting military installations within Russia… With very few exceptions, it had not done so until recently. Now, it has that capability.”
Germany’s Defense Ministry announced that this new agreement for direct investment “will facilitate the production of a significant number of long-range weapon systems this year.”
“The initial systems could be deployed within the Ukrainian armed forces in just a few weeks,” the ministry stated, noting that “they are already integrated into the Ukrainian military, so no additional training is necessary.”
Additionally, the ministry reported that Germany is supplying ammunition, small arms, and support for satellite communications and medical equipment as part of a previously authorized 5-billion-euro aid package from the German parliament.
