Chancellor Olaf Scholz again stressed that Germany would not be sending long-range Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine despite fresh aid for Kiev from the United States.
As far as the Bundeswehr's Taurus missiles are concerned, "my decision will not change," Scholz asserted at a press conference with visiting British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in Berlin on Wednesday.
"My decision is very clear about the one weapon system," he said with regard to Taurus. "But my decision is also clear that we will continue to be the biggest supporter of Ukraine in Europe, that we will continue to be the two who do the most with the UK."
Sunak applauded Scholz's "historic decision" in 2022 to sharply increase defence spending and Berlin's recent announcement that it would send another Patriot air defence system to Kiev.
But the British prime minister did not respond directly to a question about Scholz's refusal to deliver the Bundeswehr's Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine.
During Sunak's belated inaugural visit to the German Chancellery 18 months after his appointment as prime minister, the two leaders also agreed on closer defence cooperation.
The two countries want to jointly develop a remote-controlled howitzer capable of firing 155-millimetre projectiles to a distance of 40 kilometres.
The "joint endeavour" will develop "remote-controlled howitzer 155mm wheeled artillery systems (RCH 155), which will be fitted to Boxer vehicles" from German tank manufacturer Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), according to the statement from Sunak's office.
The howitzer can fire up to nine 155-millimetre calibre artillery shells per minute at a range of up to 40 kilometres.
The RCH 155 is the world's first howitzer capable of firing while travelling and is therefore better suited to evading enemy fire, the statement added.
London and Berlin also want to expand cooperation in the energy sector and in the fight against organized crime.
Sunak called for a new chapter in bilateral relations. "Today we are opening a new chapter in our relationship, one that will make us safer and more prosperous," Sunak said.
At this dangerous time for the world, he added, Britain and Germany were standing side by side to maintain security and prosperity at home and across the European continent.
Continued support for Ukraine was at a key theme of Wednesday's talks.
A few hours before Sunak arrived in Berlin, the US Congress gave the green light for new military aid worth $61 billion after months of delay. President Joe Biden later signed it into law.
It is possible that the US will soon send ATACMS missiles with a range of 300 kilometres to Ukraine, which can be used to hit Russian supply lines far behind the front line.
Scholz said he believes that NATO's European pillar must have sufficient deterrent potential, as Russia's war against Ukraine has shown that Europe's security architecture is at risk.
"For us here in Europe, this means that we must strengthen the European pillar of NATO," Scholz said in Berlin during Sunak's visit.
"Because our European capability for deterrence and defence must always be credible."
Scholz said it was an encouraging and necessary signal that the US Congress had now released the funds to support Ukraine.
He said that decision shows that Russian President Vladimir Putin "is miscalculating" if he believes European countries, the United States and all other supporters will abandon Ukraine at some point.
"We will not do that," said Scholz. "Without security, everything is nothing," the chancellor said.