BERLIN (AP) — In a significant shift in military support, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced on Wednesday the country’s pledge to assist Ukraine in developing its own long-range missile systems free of Western-imposed restrictions.
This commitment comes as Ukraine intensifies its efforts to repel Russia’s ongoing invasion, which has now entered its third year.
Past military supplies to Ukraine from its allies were often subject to strict range and target limitations, mainly due to concerns that strikes against Russian territory could provoke retaliation and potentially draw NATO into a broader conflict.
Addressing a joint press conference alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Merz emphasized that Germany is determined to provide Ukraine with the capabilities necessary for its self-defense, including the enhancement of domestic missile production.
Germany has positioned itself as a significant military supplier to Ukraine, trailing only the United States in the volume of aid provided.
Merz stated, “Ukraine will be able to fully defend itself, including against military targets outside its own territory,” as he outlined the details of the intensified cooperation agreement.
Earlier on the same day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov extended an invitation for Ukraine to engage in direct peace negotiations in Istanbul on June 2.
Lavrov suggested that Russia would present a memorandum addressing the root causes of the ongoing crisis during this meeting.
He indicated a willingness for sincere discussions regarding the peace process, hoping to attract all parties genuinely interested in achieving lasting stability.
Responding to Lavrov’s proposition, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov expressed that while Ukraine is open to direct negotiations, it has yet to receive the anticipated memorandum.
Umerov warned that further meetings without it would lead to “empty” discussions.
He reached out on X (formerly Twitter) to urge compliance with promises made by Russia, rejecting attempts to turn the proposed talks into a destructive experience.
The previous week, low-level discussions between Russian and Ukrainian delegations marked their first direct peace talks in three years.
Although these discussions did not yield substantial breakthroughs, they resulted in a significant prisoner exchange, with 1,000 captives released by both sides.
While addressing the prospects of supplying advanced Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine, Merz remained noncommittal.
This decision not to provide the Taurus missiles, which Ukraine has long requested, disappointed several lawmakers, including Roderich Kiesewetter, a senior figure in Merz’s party, the Christian Democratic Union.
Kiesewetter criticized Merz for making strong promises without the backing of coalition partners, suggesting that there exists a contingent within Germany that leans toward allowing Ukraine to concede territory to Russia to expedite peace.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to Germany’s announcement regarding the development of long-range missile systems in Ukraine by stating that it complicates the path to a peace agreement.
Both Merz and Zelenskyy criticized Moscow’s rejection of an unconditional ceasefire that the U.S. had proposed.
Kyiv accused Russia of being slow to provide responses regarding peace negotiations.
Merz highlighted earlier statements where Germany and other allies noted that they were no longer imposing range limits on weapons sent to Ukraine, albeit with the caution that their use would be restricted to targeting only Russian military facilities.
Ukraine has previously launched long-range drones at locations supporting Russia’s military, such as refineries and chemical facilities.
Last year, then-U.S. President Joe Biden authorized Ukraine to utilize American-supplied missiles for limited strikes inside Russia, particularly the Army Tactical Missile System, known as ATACMS.
In Berlin, Zelenskyy underscored the need for enhanced defense collaboration across Europe and with the United States, reiterating the importance of long-range capabilities and continuous military funding to ensure Ukraine’s resilience.
Zelenskyy stated, “We need sufficient long-range capabilities,” emphasizing the necessity for ongoing financing of the military and stability within Ukraine.
He referred to existing cooperation projects, insisting that the production of missiles should meet the required quantities.
On Tuesday, Zelenskyy revealed Ukraine’s readiness to engage in high-level peace talks that would include himself, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and U.S. President Donald Trump.
“We are ready to meet at the level of leaders,” he affirmed, noting that both American and Russian officials were aware of this readiness.
He indicated openness to various configurations for discussions, whether in a trilateral format or separate bilateral meetings with Trump.
In response, Peskov expressed gratitude to Trump for his mediation efforts, while cautioning that national interests must be prioritized in any negotiations.
As diplomatic discussions unfold, front-line fighting continues along the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) border, with Ukraine’s forces facing challenges against a larger adversary.
Zelenskyy reported the mobilization of up to 45,000 Russian troops each month, while Ukraine’s forces are limited to a mobilization of 25,000 to 27,000 personnel.
Both sides are executing numerous deep strikes, with Russia launching its most significant drone offensive to date on Sunday.
Reports from Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that air defenses intercepted 296 Ukrainian drones across 13 regions late Tuesday and into Wednesday, marking one of the largest drone assaults witnessed during the war.
Zelenskyy noted Ukraine’s efforts to increase its domestic production of drones and missiles, seeking assistance from European nations for the development of various military technologies, including attack drones, air defense systems, cruise missiles, and ballistic weaponry.
The Russian mayor of Moscow, Sergei Sobyanin, confirmed that Russian air defenses successfully shot down 33 drones targeted at the capital, while regional officials claimed that an additional 42 drones were intercepted.
Fragments from these interceptions reportedly caused damage to three residential buildings in the village of Troitskoye, although no injuries were reported.
Due to drone warnings, more than 60 flights were canceled on Wednesday at Moscow’s airports.
In a further escalation, Russian forces executed a missile and drone strike against Ukraine overnight, deploying five Iskander ballistic missiles alongside 88 drones.
Ukrainian air defense managed to neutralize 34 drones and jammed 37 others.
As the situation evolves, the international community watches closely to see how these developments will impact the ongoing conflict.
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