In the latest sign of a warming relationship, President Volodymyr Zelensky met in Berlin with Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said Germany would increase funding for arms production and supplies.

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

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the two countries will also start a joint program to produce long-range weapons that Kyiv can use against Russian targets.