In early September 2026, Germany's foreign minister made an unusually candid appeal for Ukraine to actively purchase arms from German defense manufacturers — a statement that blends security solidarity with commercial interest. The call marks a subtle but meaningful shift in how Berlin frames its role in Ukraine's defense, moving from donor to preferred supplier. It reflects a broader European reckoning with the long-term economics of war support, and with Germany's own evolving identity as a military power willing to name its strategic ambitions aloud.