Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced on Wednesday that Germany will deepen its military cooperation with Ukraine by endorsing the purchase of long-range missiles produced within the war-ravaged nation. During a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Merz revealed that the defense ministers would sign a letter of intent to procure these long-range weapon systems, referred to as Long Range Fires, stating that "there will be no restrictions on range."
This initiative builds upon a broader €5 billion military aid package unveiled by the German defense ministry on the same day. The package includes financing for the production of long-range weapons already in use by Ukrainian forces, with deployment possible within weeks. Additionally, it covers new contracts for air defense systems, munitions, and logistical support, including maintenance infrastructure and satellite communications.
Merz's announcement comes just two days after he reignited the long-standing debate over the Taurus missile system by publicly lifting range restrictions on all Western-supplied weapons to Ukraine. Speaking at the WDR Europaforum, Merz stated, “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 target military infrastructure within Russia.
This shift in policy could clear the way for Germany to deliver the Taurus cruise missiles, which have been repeatedly blocked by the previous government due to fears of escalating the conflict. The Taurus system, with a range exceeding 500 kilometers, would enable high-precision strikes deep behind Russian lines.
Furthermore, Germany announced it would finance a significant portion of Starlink satellite coverage in Ukraine, enhancing communication capabilities as Kyiv braces for increased Russian assaults.
Merz characterized this development as the beginning of a new form of military-industrial cooperation between Germany and Ukraine, highlighting the partnership’s "great potential." While he refrained from commenting on specific weapon systems, the move signifies a substantial commitment to supporting Ukraine amid ongoing conflict.
Merz pledges to keep Nord Stream 2 shut down
During the same joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Berlin, Merz pledged to do everything within his power keep Nord Stream 2 shut down, stating that “Nord Stream 2 cannot be put back into operation.”
The Nord Stream pipelines, which previously transported gas from Russia to Germany via the Baltic Sea, were sabotaged in late 2022, resulting in significant disruption to gas supplies. In the aftermath, some German politicians have expressed support for restarting the flow of natural gas, while the Kremlin has reportedly advocated for the resumption of the pipelines’ operations.
In March, the Financial Times reported that Moscow had engaged a close ally of President Vladimir Putin to facilitate the restart of gas supplies to Europe through Nord Stream, with backing from American investors. Merz emphasized that ensuring Nord Stream 2 remains non-operational would help “weaken Moscow's war machine” and “open the way for negotiations” regarding the conflict in Ukraine.
While one of the two Nord Stream 2 pipelines remains operable despite the 2022 explosions, the incident that halted gas shipments is still under investigation, with some reports linking the blast to Ukrainian nationals.
The Nord Stream pipelines have long been a contentious issue between Germany and Ukraine, with Ukrainian officials arguing that Germany's reliance on inexpensive Russian gas has emboldened Putin and funded Moscow's military endeavors. Some German politicians, including Saxony’s state premier Michael Kretschmer, have advocated for reactivating the Nord Stream pipelines to improve diplomatic ties with Moscow and alleviate energy prices as the country faces economic stagnation.
During the press conference, Zelenskyy urged for “stronger” sanctions against Moscow from both Europe and the U.S., asserting that such actions could diminish Russia's military capabilities. The European Commission is currently preparing a new sanctions package that will include measures targeting Russia's banking sector as well as the shadow fleet of aging vessels that Moscow employs to circumvent oil sanctions.
