• Germany and Ukraine agree to lift restrictions on long-range weaponry.
• Chancellor Merz proposes joint production of long-range missiles for Ukraine.
• Ukrainian President Zelensky reaches out for deeper defense collaboration.
• Kremlin warns against the escalation from Western military support.
• UN reports endorse accusations of war crimes against Russia amid ongoing attacks.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that Germany, along with allies, would no longer impose any range restrictions on weapons supplied to Ukraine. This shift enables Ukraine to defend itself by striking military positions within Russia, thereby increasing its operational capabilities against Moscow’s ongoing aggression, according to India Times and SCMP.

During a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Merz emphasized that “there will be no range restrictions, allowing Ukraine to fully defend itself.” He mentioned that this new cooperation marks the beginning of a significant military-industrial partnership between the two nations, facilitating the production of long-range weapons systems both in Germany and Ukraine, according to Channel News Asia and CBS News.

Specifically, Merz reiterated that the policy change means Ukraine can now target military locations on Russian territory more freely, adapting its defensive strategies as the conflict intensifies. He stated that Ukraine can utilize Western-supplied missiles without limits on their engagement zones, a substantial evolution from previous protocols that restricted such actions, as reported by TRT Global and Los Angeles Times.

In the wake of these announcements, the Kremlin reacted vehemently, portraying the changes as detrimental to peace efforts between the two nations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov remarked, “All these actions naturally hinder peace efforts,” highlighting fears about potential escalation resulting from these new military advancements, as conveyed by Al Jazeera and India Times.

Moreover, this meeting comes amidst ongoing conflict escalations, evidenced by Russia’s recent missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, indicating increased hostilities and a pressing atmosphere for discussions on military support and strategies. The UN has also stated that Russia has committed war crimes through drone attacks targeting civilian infrastructure, adding a grave moral context to the ongoing military actions, according to SCMP and Al Jazeera.