German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced Thursday that Ukraine will soon receive long-range weapon systems, including those developed through joint production initiatives. The statement was made during a joint press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
“Of course, we discussed in detail the military support for Ukraine,” Merz said. “This is not just about air defense, but also about Ukraine’s ability to better defend itself—including with long-range firepower. Ukraine will soon receive further, large-scale support in this area, including through industrial cooperation agreements we’ve established with Ukraine.”
Merz declined to share specific details but confirmed that Ukraine would receive significantly increased support in the coming weeks and months.
He also expressed optimism regarding pending U.S. decisions:
“I sincerely hope that the U.S. government, together with Congress, will act on the measures that lawmakers have been preparing for weeks,” Merz said, noting close contact with several U.S. senators involved in the process.
Earlier in the day, Merz and Starmer signed a treaty on friendship and cooperation, aiming to deepen bilateral ties between Germany and the United Kingdom.
As part of the agreement, Berlin and London will jointly develop next-generation missile systems with ranges exceeding 2,000 kilometers over the next decade. The treaty also outlines plans to intensify cooperation on combating illegal migration.
