Ukraine signs military deal with Germany to produce long-range weapons

Ukraine and Germany have signed a new military agreement that will see the two countries cooperate in the development and production of long-range weapons capable of striking targets inside Russia.

The deal comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia is massing around 50,000 troops near the Sumy region, where President Vladimir Putin is reportedly aiming to establish a buffer zone.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced the agreement during a press conference, saying: “Our defence ministers will sign a memorandum of understanding today regarding the procurement of Ukrainian-manufactured long-range weapons systems. There will be no range restrictions, allowing Ukraine to fully defend itself—even against military targets outside its own territory.”

The partnership marks a deepening of military ties between Kyiv and Berlin at a time when Moscow is said to be preparing a major summer offensive. During his visit to Kyiv, the German chancellor did not mention the controversial Taurus missiles, though Ukrainian officials expect the first weapons from the joint project to be operational by June 2026.

The announcement has drawn sharp criticism from Moscow. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov condemned the pact and referenced Germany's historical role as an aggressor in the 20th century.

(QG - Source: The Guardian — Picture : © Unsplash)