Germany to step up Ukraine aid as Europe scrambles to replace US

Chancellor Friedrich Merz says Ukraine and Germany will jointly develop long-range weapons to strike Russia.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (R) welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as he arrives in front of the Chancellery in Berlin. Picture: AFP

Germany will step up financial and military aid to Ukraine, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Wednesday, the latest sign that Europe is moving to replace the US as Kyiv’s key military supporter in its war with Russia.

Germany will “maintain and expand” its military support to Ukraine and the two countries will start a joint program to produce long-range weapons that Kyiv can use against Russian targets, Merz said at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Berlin.

“This is the start of a new form of military-industrial co-operation between our two countries and one that has huge potential,” he said.

With doubts mounting about US commitment to Ukraine, Europe is scrambling to fill the potential vacuum. Europe’s main military powers, including France and the UK, are struggling with large sovereign debt and high interest rates, capping how much they can shoulder.

Germany has no such problem, making it the likely spearhead of any future effort. Berlin recently adopted a constitutional amendment lifting all limits on how much it can borrow to spend on defence, including in military assistance to allies.

Merz, who became chancellor earlier this month, has been more vocal in his support of Ukraine than his predecessor, Olaf Scholz.

Kyiv has long called on Berlin to supply it with Taurus long-range missiles. The air-launched weapon developed by Germany and Sweden can destroy targets over 300 miles away. The missile’s warhead carries a void-sensing fuse that can detonate after penetrating a fortified structure, making it ideal for destroying buildings and critical infrastructure.

A Taurus cruise missile in Schrobenhausen, Germany. Picture: Getty Images

When he was leader of the opposition, Merz repeatedly called on the German government to supply Ukraine with Taurus missiles, but he declined Wednesday to say whether the new agreement would allow Kyiv to manufacture a version of the missile. Experts have said such an approach could allow Germany to provide the technology without its nationals being involved in servicing the missiles in Ukraine. Alternatively, Germany could support Ukraine’s own ballistic and cruise-missile programs.

European leaders want to impose additional sanctions on Russia for refusing to accept a 30-day ceasefire initially proposed by President Trump and are still hoping the US might join them. But they are also concerned that Trump might give up trying to mediate a resolution to the conflict.

In a call with European leaders last week, Trump said Putin believed he was winning the war, suggesting a near-term peace deal wasn’t in the cards and that Europe would need to take the driving seat in trying to solve the conflict, officials said. Russian President Vladimir Putin has stepped up missile attacks on Ukraine in recent days.

“There is absolutely no willingness on Russia’s part to enter into any talks,” Merz said. “There has been no shortage of attempts (from the West) to diplomatically engage.”

Merz is set to visit the White House in the coming weeks. After his election as chancellor, he criticised the US for turning its back on Europe — he is now eager to establish a good rapport with Trump, according to German officials.

“We are also counting on the support of the United States, whose involvement remains indispensable for successful negotiations,” said Merz. “I would like to take this opportunity to explicitly thank the American President for his personal commitment in recent weeks.

Europe has overtaken the US in total aid to Ukraine, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy’s Ukraine Support Tracker. It is also now neck and neck on military aid.

US assistance to Ukraine has slowed since Trump came into office, though he has allowed commitments made in the final days of the Biden administration to proceed.

In January and February alone, the UK, Germany, Norway, Denmark and Sweden announced 3.2 billion euros in total aid, equivalent to $US3.6 billion. The European Commission has also disbursed its first €3 billion loan to the country, according to the Kiel Institute.

Wall Street Journal