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.

The West has lifted all range restrictions on the weapons delivered to Ukraine, freeing the war-torn country to strike at any Russian military target across the border, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Monday.

New German chancellor Friedrich Merz’s pledges of material support were followed by a offer to hold peace talks from Moscow — in Istanbul, on 2 June