BERLIN PLEDGES $1.5B: Germany Announces Military Aid to Ukraine, Urges Putin to End War

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made an unannounced trip to Kyiv to announce $1.5 billion in combined military and reconstruction assistance—a significant commitment that underscores Berlin's shift toward more robust military support for Ukraine. Germany historically resisted sending heavy weapons, but has gradually expanded its role since Russia's invasion began, now ranking among Ukraine's top Western arms suppliers alongside the U.S. and Poland.