By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
BERLIN/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Ukraine and Germany have agreed to jointly produce long-range missiles that could reach distant targets in Russia.
Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor, said Wednesday that the weapons would be produced on Ukrainian soil as part of a new 5 billion euros ($5.7 billion) German aid package for Kyiv.
“Our defense ministers will sign a memorandum of understanding today regarding the procurement of Ukrainian-manufactured long-range weapons systems,” Merz told reporters after talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Berlin.
“There will be no range restrictions, allowing Ukraine to fully defend itself, even against military targets outside its own territory,” he added.
The pact was inked after Zelenskyy arrived in Germany’s capital in search of more support as Russian attacks intensified amid evidence that Moscow was planning a broad summer offensive.
The deal came while Zelenskyy warned that Russia amassed 50,000 troops in the Sumy region bordering Russia, where Russian President Vladimir Putin says he wants to “establish a buffer zone.”
WEAPONS SECRET
However, the German and Ukrainian leaders declined to detail what specific weapons would be manufactured in Ukraine to push back Russia’s military.
They said keeping the exact weapons lineup as secretive as possible was prudent. However, Zelenskyy confirmed that he expected the first weapons to be ready by June next year.
Observers said they expect Berlin to supply Ukraine with technical components to build and maintain its long-range weaponry, including rockets and cruise missiles, with a range of up to 2,500 kilometers (1,553 miles).
Merz refused to say whether Germany would deploy Taurus missiles in Ukraine, enabling Kyiv to strike Russian military targets over the border.
Analysts said the weapons production on Ukrainian soil rather than Kyiv receiving “made-in-Germany” missiles would enable Berlin to calm down critics fearing Germany being dragged into a broader conflict 80 years after World War Two.
Copyright 1999-2025 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
A government ban on major social media platforms that enraged young Nepalis has spiraled into the country’s deadliest political violence in decades, with authorities saying Sunday that at least 72 people have been killed and hundreds more injured during protests reflecting years of frustration over corruption, inequality, and “curbs on freedoms.”
Throughout the Hill Country, crosses, words of Jesus, prayers and messages of hope are written on memorials honoring nearly 150 killed from the catastrophic July 4 flash flood.
The NATO military alliance has begun rolling out its defensive posture on its eastern flank bordering Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine. NATO leaders said the new equipment is aimed at deterring potential Russian aggression after at least 19 Russian drones entered Polish territory and Romania also reported a violation of its airspace.
Israel’s surprise strike on Hamas political leaders in Qatar showcased its growing arsenal of advanced ballistic missiles and its ability to deploy them at long range with precision, according to an exclusive report by the Wall Street Journal.
More than 100,000 people packed into central London on Saturday for what organizers billed as the largest free speech rally in British history. The “Unite the Kingdom” march, spearheaded by activist Tommy Robinson, featured a live video appearance by billionaire Elon Musk and a tribute to slain U.S. conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Christians in Pakistan’s flood-hit Punjab province were among those struggling to survive Thursday, while in Indonesia, at least 19 people were confirmed dead after flash floods struck the tourist island of Bali and other regions as deadly monsoon waters swept across parts of South Asia.
Much of the world is mourning after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the born-again Christian conservative leader, who inspired his generation and whose widow praised him as a loving husband with a deep faith in Jesus Christ.