Zelensky Heads to Berlin, Aiming to Secure Funds to Expand Arms Production

As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine drags into its fourth summer, with both sides intensifying their push to expand their weapons capabilities, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made his way to Germany on Wednesday in pursuit of fresh backing from one of Europe’s most influential economies.

This marks the third time in recent weeks that Mr. Zelensky will meet with Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The frequent engagements reflect Mr. Merz’s ambition to reposition Germany as a leading voice among European nations, especially amid reduced American involvement in NATO affairs. It also shows how vital Germany’s role is in Ukraine’s ongoing military campaign.

Ahead of his departure, Mr. Zelensky outlined a clear priority for the visit — boosting funding for homegrown weapons production.

“We need financial support,” Mr. Zelensky told reporters in Kyiv on Tuesday. “That’s the biggest issue — not technology limits or lack of long-range weapons. It’s about money.”

Addressing the Ukrainian people later that evening, he listed the types of weapons his forces urgently require: “Attack drones, interceptors, cruise missiles, Ukrainian ballistic systems — these are the key elements. We must manufacture all of them.”

After years spent rallying international partners for arms, Mr. Zelensky said Ukraine now needs about $30 billion annually to fully scale up its own defense manufacturing efforts.

Given the long stalemate on the battlefield and a renewed Russian push, the need to outpace the opponent in military production has become even more pressing, said Seth G. Jones, a former U.S. defense adviser who monitors developments closely.

“In wars of attrition, victory has frequently gone to the side with the more productive defense industrial base,” he said.

Mr. Jones added that this isn’t just a battle of armies but also of global supply chains.

“On one side is the Ukrainian defense industrial base, with aid from Europe and the United States,” he said. “On the other side is the Russian industrial base, with aid from China, Iran and North Korea.”

How long each camp can count on support from their international partners may prove decisive in the coming months, he suggested.

With American lawmakers holding back further aid and European nations struggling to compensate, Mr. Zelensky emphasized on Tuesday the need to ramp up penalties against Moscow. Expanding sanctions, he argued, is “a crucial step” in slowing Russian forces down.

“Failure to impose sanctions boosts morale in the Kremlin,” he said. “It will reflect on the battlefield, as they’re emotionally inspired by words.”

Nonetheless, he stressed that Russia is not in a position to prolong the conflict forever.

“Multiple intelligence analyses agree: We all hope that by June 2026, the war will be over,” he said. “But even now, sanctions are affecting the Russian economy.”

Chancellor Merz has been vocal in supporting more intense sanctions to pressure Russia into agreeing to a truce.

“In Ukraine, nothing less than the peace order of our entire continent is at stake,” Mr. Merz told lawmakers in his first speech before Parliament after assuming office this month. “In this historic moment of decision, Europe must stand together more closely than ever before.”

Russia’s defense production continues to expand rapidly, giving it a significant edge in replenishing its troops and gear compared to Ukraine.

According to Mr. Zelensky, Russia has recently managed to draft between 40,000 and 50,000 soldiers, whereas Ukraine has brought in approximately 25,000 to 27,000.

So far, the U.S. has refrained from applying additional pressure on Moscow, arguing that doing so could hurt diplomatic efforts. Following Russia’s recent massive missile and drone attacks, President Trump sharply criticized President Putin, calling him “crazy.”

On Tuesday, Mr. Trump again criticized Putin in a social media post, saying, “if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia.”

Despite his criticisms, Mr. Trump has yet to outline any concrete measures against Russia, instead urging European countries to assume more responsibility in aiding Ukraine.

Mr. Zelensky’s schedule in Berlin includes a meeting and joint press appearance with Mr. Merz. He is also expected to meet with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier later in the day.

Mr. Merz has quickly developed a close rapport with the Ukrainian leader — a sharp departure from his predecessor Olaf Scholz, who waited nearly a year after Russia’s invasion before visiting Ukraine. Merz, by contrast, made the trip just days after taking office.

While both Ukraine and Russia continue boosting their defense manufacturing, they’re also targeting each other’s production facilities with both overt strikes and covert operations.

On Wednesday, the Russian Defense Ministry reported intercepting nearly 300 Ukrainian drones in a nighttime assault aimed at strategic military-industrial zones. Ukraine’s Air Force stated that Russia’s latest attack included 88 drones, five ballistic missiles, and one cruise missile.

Mr. Zelensky reiterated that Kyiv remains willing to engage in dialogue, but insisted the Kremlin would only come to the table if the cost of war rises.

Mr. Zelensky told reporters Tuesday that he’s open to direct talks with Mr. Putin — or to a three-way discussion involving both Mr. Putin and Mr. Trump. “If Putin only wants a tri-party format, that’s fine too. I see no problem with formats; the key is substance.”