German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on 17 July that Ukraine will receive jointly developed long-range weapons systems "very soon," marking an expansion of industrial cooperation between German and Ukrainian defense manufacturers. Merz, speaking during a visit to London, indicated that the capability—identified in Politico reporting as Patriot missiles—could become operational in Ukraine within weeks. The delivery would deepen Berlin’s military support for Kyiv at a time when the German government has labelled Russian aggression the most significant threat to European security. The plan follows recent moves by the United States to increase Ukraine’s fire-power and forms part of what German and British officials have called an “entente industrielle” on defence production.