On Wednesday it was announced that Germany will help Ukraine develop its own long-range missiles to attack deep into Russia. The purpose of the new weapons will be to get around range restrictions imposed by countries that supply and service the current long-range missiles in Ukraine. Berlin’s Defense Ministry also announced another 5 billion euros of military aid will be sent to Kiev as well.
Our government representatives signed agreements on cooperation in construction and industrial development. We also agreed today to resume the intergovernmental format between Ukraine and Germany — at our level, the level of the President and the Chancellor — to ensure that our…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 28, 2025
“Ukraine will be able to fully defend itself, including against military targets outside its own territory,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said while meeting with Ukrainian Dictator Vladimir Zelensky in Berlin Wednesday.
The Ukrainians are defending their lives, their country and their freedom. Their great sacrifices are also defending Europe’s security against Russia’s militant revisionism.
— Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz (@bundeskanzler) May 28, 2025
We will continue our military support for Ukraine. And we will expand it. pic.twitter.com/ZonysK7i2E
While Ukrainian-made weapons will get past foreign country’s range restrictions, those restrictions have been lifted. On Monday it was reported that Merz lifted range restrictions on the German missiles and that the German head of state also said that other countries have done the same. Previously these missiles could only strike Russian targets in areas previously held by Ukraine.
“German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has now authorized the use of German missiles for strikes against Russian territory, in a move that signals a dramatic escalation against Moscow,” Remix News said Monday. “He also signaled that this will not only apply to German weapons, but also other weapons systems from countries like France and the United States.”
When range restrictions were lifted and long-range missiles were launched deep into Russia in November, it nearly sparked nuclear world war.
“The Taurus has a range of 500km (310 miles) and could reach deeper into Russian territory than other far-range missiles,” the BBC said Wednesday. “Although Merz did not refer to the Taurus by name during his press conference with the Ukrainian leader, he did say a “memorandum of understanding” on long-range missiles would be signed by the German and Ukrainian defence ministers later on Wednesday.”
RT Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan has said that Moscow can now target Berlin, as it’s effectively declared itself a player in the war. This coincides with Russia’s new nuclear doctrine which allows Russia to launch preemptive nuclear strikes against non-nuclear nations that attack it.
Germany, home to advanced design and manufacturing abilities is a powerful player in weapons development. It deployed the very first cruise missile in 1944 and the very first ballistic missile later that same year.
Soon after Merz’s announcement, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov invited Kiev to hold direct peace talks with Moscow in Istanbul on June 2. The peace process appeared to be progressing smoothly until last week.
“Our delegation headed by [Russia’s top negotiator Vladimir] Medinsky is ready to present this memorandum to the Ukrainian delegation and provide necessary clarifications during a second round of resumed direct negotiations in Istanbul next Monday, June 2,” Lavrov said Wednesday.
Over the last week the Ukraine war heated up, stirring stanch criticism from President Donald Trump. According to Russia’s Foreign Minister, Trump is not being told the entire truth about the matter.
“One thing is clear – Donald Trump and those who actually make decisions regarding the Ukraine conflict in particular, are not being told everything,” Lavrov said Wednesday. “The information he [Trump] is given is filtered through a sieve, which is prepared by those who want to draw America into more aggressive action against Russia, in support of the Kiev regime.”