Latest news with #longrangeweapons
Russia Today
2 days ago
- Business
- Russia Today
Berlin offers Kiev another €5 billion
Berlin will provide Kiev with another €5 billion ($5.6 billion) in military aid on top of the €28 billion it has given since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in early 2022, the German Defense Ministry has announced. Moscow has stated in response that further assistance to Ukraine could precipitate the 'collapse' of Germany. The funds promised by Berlin would principally be used to 'finance the production of long-range weapon systems in Ukraine,' the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov, who arrived in Berlin together with Vladimir Zelensky, signed a defense cooperation deal between the two countries. 'A significant number' of long-range weapon systems can be manufactured inside Ukraine this year, the statement read without specifying the types of arms. The first of those weapons could be deployed by Kiev against Russian forces 'in just a few weeks' as Ukrainian troops are already familiar with them and will not require additional training, it added. The €5 billion would also cover German deliveries of ammunition, including for air defense systems, small arms and medical equipment, the ministry said. During a joint press conference with Zelensky on Wednesday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that Berlin and Kiev 'want to ensure joint production' of long-range armaments, but declined to reveal any details. There will be no range restrictions on the weapons and Kiev will be allowed to attack targets outside its own territory, he stressed. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reacted to Merz's statement by saying that Berlin's 'direct involvement in the war is now obvious.' 'Germany is sliding down the same slippery slope it already followed a couple of times in the last century – down toward its own collapse,' Lavrov stressed, referring to the defeats suffered by the country in the First and Second World wars. Moscow has repeatedly insisted that Western arms deliveries to Ukraine will not stop it from reaching its military objectives, but will only prolong the conflict and raise the risk of a confrontation with NATO. The Kremlin warned that the latest 'provocative actions' by EU states could derail the US-brokered diplomatic process between Russia and Ukraine, which restarted last month after a three-year break.
CNA
3 days ago
- Business
- CNA
Merz says Germany, Ukraine to jointly produce long-range weapons
BERLIN: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Wednesday (May 28) during a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Berlin will help Kyiv develop new long-range weapons that can hit targets well inside Russian territory. Both countries' defence ministers later signed a memorandum of understanding for the production of long-range weapons systems, but without revealing technical details or naming the manufacturers involved. "There will be no range restrictions, allowing Ukraine to fully defend itself, even against military targets outside its own territory," Merz told a joint press conference. Zelenskyy's Berlin visit comes days after Russia launched some of its heaviest missile and drone attacks of the conflict on Ukraine, and as US President Donald Trump has voiced growing frustration with Russia's President Vladimir Putin. The Ukrainian president accused Russia of stalling peace talks and said Moscow did not want to halt its three-year invasion, adding that "they will constantly look for reasons not to end the war". Merz said that "the massive air strikes, particularly on the city of Kyiv over the weekend, do not speak the language of peace, but rather the language of a war of aggression". "This is a slap in the face of all those who are trying to bring about a ceasefire in Ukraine itself, but also in Europe and the USA." He warned that "the Russian side's refusal to hold talks, the refusal to observe a ceasefire, now really has consequences, and we are drawing these consequences every day". Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state media when asked about Merz's weapons announcement: "All these actions naturally hinder peace efforts." Merz also pointed to reports that Russia and American investors are hoping to resume Russian gas deliveries through the destroyed Nord Stream pipelines running through the Baltic Sea and vowed that Germany will "do everything" to ensure this will not happen. "MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COOPERATION" Merz, who took power early this month, has vowed to keep strongly backing Ukraine, but without giving details of which weapons Germany is sending, in line with a policy of strategic ambiguity. The joint production of long-range weapons "can take place both in Ukraine and here in Germany," he said. "We will not provide any further details until further notice." Merz hailed the project as "the beginning of a new form of military-industrial cooperation between our countries that has great potential". Merz had pointed out in a TV interview this week that already "there are no longer any range restrictions on weapons delivered to Ukraine - neither by the British nor by the French nor by us nor by the Americans". "This means that Ukraine can now defend itself, for example, by attacking military positions in Russia ... With very few exceptions, it didn't do that until recently. It can now do that." Germany's defence ministry said the new agreement for direct investment "will enable a significant number of long-range weapons to be produced this year". "The first of these systems can be deployed in the Ukrainian armed forces in just a few weeks," it said, adding that "they are already in service in the Ukrainian armed forces, so no additional training is required." The ministry said Germany was also sending ammunition and small arms and helping with satellite communications and medical gear, as part of a five billion euro tranche of support previously approved by the German parliament.
CBS News
3 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Germany and Ukraine to jointly develop new long-range weapons as U.N. experts accuse Russia of war crimes
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Wednesday during a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Berlin will help Kyiv develop new long-range weapons that can hit targets in Russian territory. He said both countries' defense ministers would sign a memorandum of understanding for the production of long-range weapons systems, declining to provide technical details or name the manufacturers involved. "There will be no range restrictions, allowing Ukraine to fully defend itself, even against military targets outside its own territory," he told a joint news conference. Zelenskyy's Berlin visit comes days after Russia launched some of its heaviest missile and drone attacks of the conflict on Ukraine, and as President Trump voices growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Ukrainian president accused Russia of stalling peace talks and said Moscow did not want to halt its three-year invasion, adding that "they will constantly look for reasons not to end the war." Ongoing Russian strikes are war crimes, U.N. experts conclude Merz said "the massive air strikes, particularly on the city of Kyiv over the weekend, do not speak the language of peace, but rather the language of a war of aggression," calling it, "a slap in the face of all those who are trying to bring about a ceasefire in Ukraine itself, but also in Europe and the USA." Russia's military has committed "crimes against humanity" and "war crimes" in its drone attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine's Kherson region in particular, a panel of United Nations experts concludes in a report published Wednesday. The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, established by the U.N. Human Rights Council, said Russian armed forces were "systematically" hitting civilians. "Russian armed forces have committed the crimes against humanity of murder and the war crimes of attacking civilians, through a months-long pattern of drone attacks targeting civilians on the right bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Province," the inquiry said in its atypically blunt assessment. "These acts were committed with the primary purpose to spread terror among the civilian population, in violation of international humanitarian law." The U.N. panel added that "the attacks are continuing at the time of the publication of this report." Germany calls Ukraine missile deal a "new form of military-industrial cooperation" Merz, who took power early this month, has vowed to keep strongly backing Ukraine, but without giving details of which weapons Germany is sending, in line with a policy of strategic ambiguity. The joint production of long-range weapons "can take place both in Ukraine and here in Germany," he said. "We will not provide any further details until further notice." German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with military honors at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, May 28, 2025. Christian Marquardt/NurPhoto/Getty Merz hailed the project as "the beginning of a new form of military-industrial cooperation between our countries that has great potential." Merz had pointed out in a TV interview this week that already "there are no longer any range restrictions on weapons delivered to Ukraine - neither by the British nor by the French nor by us nor by the Americans." "This means that Ukraine can now defend itself, for example, by attacking military positions in Russia... With very few exceptions, it didn't do that until recently. It can now do that." Indeed, Ukraine has stepped up attacks on what it claims are military and military-industrial sites deep inside Russia, including a wave of almost 300 drones that Russia's military claimed to have intercepted overnight. Ukrainian military bloggers said the drones had targeted drone, missile and explosive manufacturing facilities, including one north of Moscow, and other sites near the capital itself. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was quoted by the state-run Tass news agency on Wednesday as saying the German-Ukrainian partnership would escalate tension between Russia and Europe, adding: "Germany is directly drawn into this war." That is a charge Russia has issued for months, however, and Lavrov noted that German tanks were already on the battlefield, "therefore, direct involvement in the war is already obvious." "Germany is sliding down the same inclined plane along which it has already moved a couple of times in the last century - down to its collapse. I hope that responsible politicians in this country will still draw the right conclusion, stop the madness," Tass quoted Lavrov as saying. Kremlin suggests Trump being misinformed after he calls Putin "crazy" Taking over from center-left leader Olaf Scholz, Merz has changed the tone in Berlin and voiced harsh criticism of Putin who, the chancellor charged this week, "obviously sees offers of talks as a sign of weakness." Mr. Trump, who had long promised that he would quickly broker an end to the war, issued a rare rebuke of Putin on social media on Sunday. "I've always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!" the president said. Moscow at first appeared to downplay his remarks, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov suggesting that all parties were speaking under conditions of emotional overload. Asked about the U.S. president's remarks on Wednesday, however, longtime Putin aide Yuri Ushakov told Russia's state-run VGTRK news outlet that Moscow had concluded Mr. Trump, "is not being informed enough, in particular, Trump is not being sufficiently informed about the massive terrorist attacks that Ukraine is carrying out against peaceful cities in the Russian Federation." He said the American leader failed to "fully understand that the Russian Federation is striking exclusively at military infrastructure facilities or the military-industrial complex of Ukraine." The false claim comes after many months of Russian rocket and drone strikes hitting Ukrainian apartment buildings and other civilian infrastructure, killing hundreds of civilians. On Tuesday, Mr. Trump warned that Putin was "playing with fire," amid unconfirmed reports that the U.S. leader is now considering fresh sanctions against Russia, something the United States' NATO allies have long called for.
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Germany's Merz vows long-range weapons for Ukraine following talks with Zelenskiy
German chancellor Friedrich Merz has promised long-range weapons to assist Ukraine in defending its territory and European freedom, and to fight Russian 'aggression and militant revisionism'. The long-awaited German shift in policy, after 1,189 days of conflict, followed talks in Berlin with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy . Both leaders accused Vladimir Putin of 'playing for time' on talks to end the three-year conflict, while Mr Merz said recent Russian air raids in Ukraine 'do not peak the language of peace'. Former chancellor Olaf Scholz was wary of providing Ukraine with long-range weapons, fearing Russia would use this to declare Germany a party to the conflict. READ MORE On Wednesday, Mr Merz set aside such concerns, saying Berlin would not limit the range of any weapons it supplied, helping Ukraine to 'defend itself fully, including against military targets outside its territory'. 'We want to make long-range weapons possible as well as joint weapons production, and will not talk in public about the details,' Mr Merz said at a joint press conference. 'We will intensify our co-operation above all to give the Ukraine army every possibility to defend the country successfully.' Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy and German chancellor Friedrich Merz speak to the media following talks at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany. Photograph:Following a cool relationship with Mr Scholz, Mr Zelenskiy joked and smiled with the new German leader after being received with military honours. After the US, Germany is Ukraine's largest supplier of arms and aid, worth in absolute terms – from missiles to air defence systems – about €28 billion, according to an official list from last month. In another break with the Scholz administration, the German defence ministry is to stop publishing details of military aid to Ukraine, as the two countries' defence ministers signed a new co-operation agreement on Wednesday. [ Analysis: Putin wants written pledge to halt Nato expansion in return for peace Opens in new window ] Without going into details, Germany will provide financing and the know-how of German arms companies for weapons production in both Ukraine and Germany. The visit – and Wednesday's announcements – will go some way to ease long-running tensions between Berlin and Kyiv dating back to 2022. In addition, it will help end months of confusion over how far Mr Merz was willing to go to back Ukraine. As opposition leader, he criticised the Scholz administration's restraint and backed providing Kyiv with Taurus cruise missiles. In February on the campaign trail, however, he shifted his position, making such deliveries conditional on unspecified agreement with other EU member states. [ Profile: Friedrich Merz known for impulsive shifts and rhetorical sharpshooting Opens in new window ] In addition, Mr Merz has faced criticism at home for setting – then failing to act on – a deadline for fresh sanctions against Russia. Asked about this on Wednesday, the Ukrainian president said he hoped further economic action against Russia was forthcoming soon. 'Only pressure will achieve something, we are waiting for further sanctions,' said Mr Zelenskiy, adding that Ukraine and the US were still waiting to hear back from Russia on peace talks. 'We are open for every platform, every format . . . Russia are looking for a way out so they don't have to end the war,' said the Ukrainian leader. Asked about his broken pledge of further sanctions, Mr Merz said he was optimistic the US would soon back a further, 18th package against Russia. [ The Irish Times view on Germany's new troop deployment: a sea change to the east Opens in new window ] Until then, he said, 'you can take it that the refusal of the Russian side to participate in talks now and adopt a ceasefire now has consequences'. In addition, the German leader promised to continue financing the Starlink satellite network in Ukraine and 'do everything' to make sure the damaged Nord Stream 2 pipeline cannot be activated. He was responding to rumours that a US-led consortium may buy up and repair the Baltic Sea pipeline network between Russia and Germany. Finally, Mr Merz promised a fresh round of bilateral government consultations later this year to discuss postwar co-operation on energy, infrastructure, construction, agriculture and medical technology.
Bloomberg
3 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Germany to Help Kyiv Build Long-Range Missiles
Germany has agreed to provide Ukraine with €5 billion ($5.7 billion) in military aid as part of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's pledge to help Kyiv build long-range weapons to hit targets on Russian territory. With support from the US under President Donald Trump waning and efforts at peace negotiations with Russia's Vladimir Putin stalling, the funding issue is paramount. Zelenskiy has called on western allies to provide $30 billion by the end of the year to boost domestic weapons production and hold off Russia's advance.
