Germany Pledges to Help Ukraine Produce Long-Range Weapons: A New Era in European Security
Introduction
In a move that marks a profound shift in Europe’s approach to the ongoing war in Ukraine, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to assist Ukraine in producing long-range weapons, explicitly stating that there are “no longer” any range restrictions on weapons supplied by Kyiv’s Western allies. This announcement, made during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Berlin, signals a decisive escalation in Western support for Ukraine and a deepening commitment to countering Russian aggression. The policy change, coordinated with France, the United Kingdom, and the United States, enables Ukraine to strike military targets inside Russian territory, a step that both reflects and accelerates the transformation of Europe’s security landscape.
This report examines the origins, substance, and likely consequences of Germany’s new policy, the details of the German-Ukrainian defense agreement, the reactions from Russia and other international actors, and the broader implications for deterrence, escalation, and the future of European security.
