Germany’s Merz pledges to help Ukraine develop long-range missile systems

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to help Ukraine develop its own long-range missile systems that would be free of any western-imposed limitations on their range and targets as the Kyiv government fights to repel Russia’s invasion.

Some of the advanced weapon systems that Kyiv’s allies have supplied to Ukraine were subject to range and target restrictions.

Meanwhile Russia’s foreign minister invited Ukraine to hold direct peace talks with Moscow in June.