Kyiv, Ukraine, 4 October, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Germany and Ukraine are expanding cooperation on Ukraine long-range weapons, including systems capable of striking targets more than 1,000 kilometres away, as Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledges deeper military and industrial support for Kyiv during a visit to the Ukrainian capital.
Merz arrived in Kyiv on Sunday as air-raid sirens and explosions sounded across the city. His visit comes as Russia intensifies attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure and Germany seeks to strengthen Ukraine’s military capabilities ahead of another winter of war.
Germany and Ukraine deepen long-range weapons partnership
The German-Ukrainian defence partnership is moving beyond conventional military aid towards joint development and production.
According to Reuters, the latest cooperation includes long-range weapons capable of striking targets more than 1,000 kilometres away. Germany and Ukraine are also expected to deepen cooperation on drones, including interceptor systems designed to counter Russian attacks.
The programme builds on an agreement announced by Merz in Berlin in May 2025, when German and Ukrainian defence ministers signed a declaration concerning the procurement of Ukrainian-produced long-range strike systems. The German government has subsequently avoided revealing operational details.
Merz pledges powerful support during Kyiv visit
Germany’s federal government confirmed Merz’s visit and said German and Ukrainian companies were jointly developing technologies benefiting both countries.
Merz said after arriving: “I travelled to Kyiv today because Ukraine needs all our support in the coming weeks.”
He warned that if Russia were not stopped, its “war machine” could eventually be directed against Germany and other European countries. Merz also pledged that Ukrainians could continue to count on German assistance8.
Reuters reported that Berlin’s latest package includes €1 billion in military assistance alongside €350 million for repairs to Ukraine’s energy sector.
Berlin’s long-range policy has developed over time
Germany has been pursuing what Merz has publicly described as “Long-Range Fire” projects with Ukraine.
In November 2025, the chancellor said Berlin was working intensively with the Ukrainian government to implement such programmes. He deliberately withheld detailed information, arguing that maintaining uncertainty over Germany’s military assistance was important.
That policy is now developing alongside broader European efforts to increase production of air-defence and stand-off weapons. Germany has also backed closer cooperation between European defence manufacturers as governments reassess their military capabilities following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Why Ukraine’s new strike capability matters
Weapons with ranges exceeding 1,000 kilometres could significantly extend Ukraine’s ability to reach military infrastructure, logistics facilities and other military targets far behind the front line.
The development of Ukraine long-range weapons also demonstrates a change in Germany’s approach: Berlin is increasingly supporting Ukrainian production rather than relying exclusively on transfers from existing German military inventories.
The partnership could simultaneously provide German manufacturers with lessons from Ukraine’s rapidly evolving battlefield technologies. Merz said cooperation between companies from the two countries makes both Germany and Ukraine “safer and stronger”.
What happens next for German-Ukrainian defence cooperation?
Berlin and Kyiv are expected to continue expanding joint weapons and drone production. Germany’s latest assistance will also focus on Ukraine’s immediate military requirements and repairing energy infrastructure damaged by Russian attacks.
However, neither government has publicly disclosed full technical specifications, production volumes or deployment schedules for the systems exceeding 1,000 kilometres in range.
That secrecy means the precise capabilities remain unclear, but Germany’s existing commitments and Merz’s latest Kyiv visit confirm that long-range strike production has become an increasingly important part of German-Ukrainian defence cooperation.
