Andrey Melnik, Ukraine’s representative to the United Nations, has called on Germany to send nearly a third of its military equipment to Kyiv, urging bold action amid growing uncertainty over future US support under a possible second Trump presidency.
In an open letter published in Welt am Sonntag, Melnik addressed Chancellor-designate Friedrich Merz directly, asking him to lead efforts to end the war by late 2025. “The power to stop this damn war is in your hands,” Melnik wrote.
Outlining his proposal, the former ambassador to Berlin (2015–2022) urged Germany to transfer 30% of its Bundeswehr inventory of armored vehicles and combat aircraft to Ukraine. This includes roughly 45 Eurofighter Typhoons, 30 Tornado jets, 100 Leopard 2 tanks, and a combined 245 Puma and Marder infantry fighting vehicles.
He also called on Berlin to overcome opposition from the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and approve the delivery of 150 Taurus long-range cruise missiles, which have been a point of political tension. SPD leaders have warned that such a move could escalate tensions with Moscow.
Currently, the SPD and Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) are negotiating the terms of a governing coalition. Despite internal divisions, Merz has shown openness to providing Taurus missiles — a stance that drew criticism from SPD figures like Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and party leader Matthias Miersch.
Beyond immediate weapons shipments, Melnik proposed a long-term funding plan: that Germany allocate 0.5% of its GDP — approximately €21.5 billion ($24.5 billion) annually — toward Ukraine’s military support through 2029. He suggested the funds be used for joint weapons manufacturing in both Germany and Ukraine. Moreover, Melnik wants the 0.5% GDP commitment adopted across the EU as a strategic signal to Moscow.
Russia’s ambassador to Berlin, Sergey Nechayev, has already pushed back on Germany’s involvement. He warned that sending advanced weapons systems to Kyiv would not alter the situation on the battlefield but would deepen Germany’s role in the conflict.
