Ukraine and Germany have agreed to future military cooperation in which Berlin will help finance long-range weapons production.
The agreement was made as Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited in Berlin in search of more support after Russian attacks intensified, and amid evidence that Moscow was planning a broad summer offensive.
It was his third visit to the German capital since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022 and his first since Friedrich Merz entered office.
German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz stated that defence sector accords between the two allies were due to be signed in Berlin on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, afternoon. He added that the weapons would be produced in a Kyiv-Berlin collaboration.
“Our defence ministers will sign a memorandum of understanding today regarding the procurement of Ukrainian-manufactured long-range weapons systems. There will be no range restrictions, allowing Ukraine to fully defend itself, even against military targets outside its own territory.”
Friedrich Merz
He noted that the production of long-range weapons can take place both in Ukraine and in Germany.
Merz hailed the project as “the beginning of a new form of military-industrial cooperation between our countries that has great potential.”
Neither leader would detail the specific weapons that would be manufactured in Ukraine, saying that it was prudent to keep the information as secretive as possible.
Zelenskyy stated that he expected the first weapons to be ready by June 2026.
The expectation is that Berlin will supply Ukraine with the technical components to build and maintain its own long-range weaponry, including rockets and cruise missiles, with a range of up to 2,500km.
There has been heightened speculation that Merz will promise to deliver longer-ranged weapons systems to Ukraine, such as Taurus missiles, after he said on Monday that there were no longer any range restrictions on the weapons Germany sends to Kyiv to defend itself against Russia.
However, the German government has since sought to clarify its position, saying these range restrictions had already been lifted.
Merz avoided commenting on speculation as to whether Germany would deploy Taurus missiles.
Germany has long supported Kyiv and is the second-biggest deliverer of weapons after the US.
As well as focusing on Germany’s continued support for Ukraine, the visit was also expected to be used to discuss efforts to bring about a ceasefire in the conflict that has run for three-and-a-half years, the German government spokesperson, Stefan Kornelius, said earlier in the day.
The two leaders said they believed all the stops had been pulled out to solve the conflict through diplomatic means, repeatedly emphasising their conviction that the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, was not interested in ending the bloodshed. But they said they would continue to pursue a negotiated peace, referring to possible talks in Geneva.
Germany To Provide €5bn Military Aid Package To Ukraine
Germany’s defence ministry disclosed that the country will provide further military support for Ukraine amounting to about €5bn ($5.65bn).
This came as Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy met senior officials in Berlin.
In its statement, the ministry pointed to Russian airstrikes, “with many civilians killed and injured, as well as the massive destruction of civilian infrastructure in particular.”
It added that the aid will be financed by funds already approved by Germany’s lower house of parliament.
After meeting German business leaders and leading parliamentarians, Zelenskyy will spend the night in Berlin.
He and Merz are then due to travel to the western German city of Aachen on Thursday, May 29, 2025, where the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, is to receive a prize.
Keir Starmer is also due to attend, and the four leaders are expected to hold further talks there.
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