BERLIN — Germany will deepen its military cooperation with Ukraine by supporting the purchase of long-range missiles produced in the war-ravaged nation, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said.
“Our defense ministers will sign a letter of intent today on procuring long-range weapon systems produced in Ukraine — so-called Long Range Fires,” Merz said Wednesday during a joint press conference with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Berlin. “There will be no restrictions on range.”
The announcement comes just two days after Merz reignited Germany’s long-running Taurus missile debate by publicly lifting range restrictions on all Western-supplied weapons.
Speaking on Monday at the WDR Europaforum, Merz said: “There are no more range limitations for weapons delivered to Ukraine. Neither from the Brits, nor the French, nor from us. Not from the Americans either.” He emphasized Ukraine’s right to hit military infrastructure on Russian territory.
The change could pave the way for Berlin to deliver the long-requested Taurus cruise missiles, a step repeatedly blocked by the previous government led by former Chancellor Olaf Scholz, over fears it would lead to escalation of the war. The Taurus system, with a range of over 500 kilometers, would enable high-precision strikes deep behind Russian lines.
Germany also confirmed it will finance a significant portion of Starlink satellite coverage in Ukraine, helping secure communications as Kyiv braces for increased Russian assaults.
“This marks the beginning of a new form of military-industrial cooperation between our countries,” Merz said, calling the partnership one with “great potential.” He refused to comment on specific weapons systems.
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