The funds, already approved by the Bundestag, are needed "because Russia’s attacks have killed and wounded many civilians and caused massive destruction of civil infrastructure," the German defense ministry said in a statement.
Merz said defense ministers would sign a letter of intent “to acquire long-range-fires systems built in Ukraine … with no range limitation," Polish state news agency PAP reported.
He added: "Ukraine may defend itself against military targets outside its own territory. This is the start of a new form of defense-industrial cooperation between our countries.”
Zelensky told reporters Ukraine had also reached “new arrangements on joint arms production, above all drones.”
Kyiv already builds R-360 Neptune anti-ship missiles, two of which sank Russia’s cruiser Moskva in 2022.
Pressure on Moscow
Merz rejected suggestions that the G7 leaders’ May 10 ultimatum for a 30-day ceasefire had failed: “Refusing a truce now has consequences. We are drawing them every single day.”
He cited the EU’s 17th sanctions package and said work on an 18th package was under way “in consultation with the Americans.”
Merz also vowed to prevent any restart of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, after Saxony’s premier – a member of Merz’s party – floated talks on reopening the link.
Zelensky warned that Ukraine’s absence from the June NATO summit in The Hague “would be a victory for Vladimir Putin over the alliance.”
(jh/gs)
Source: PAP