Ukraine and Germany have strengthened their cooperation in the defense sector.
Yesterday, during a visit to Berlin by Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky and Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, the two countries reached an agreement on defense cooperation.
The agreement also includes a deal on drone production which, according to the Ukrainian president, could become one of the largest of its kind in Europe. The overall package is valued at 4 billion euros and also includes investments in long-range capabilities and technological collaboration between the two countries.
“No defense industry has become more innovative than the Ukrainian one,” said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at a press conference in Berlin. “Through our support, we are strengthening German and European defense capabilities and our industrial base.”
All the details.
GERMANY AND UKRAINE SIGN BILATERAL DEFENSE AGREEMENTS
During a joint press conference, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the signing of ten agreements with Germany, in the presence of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, reports Euractiv.
”We have 10 documents already signed, 10 agreements, 10 understandings of various levels. The agreements on air defense are among the most urgent for us. These involve missiles for air defense, certainly the Pac-2 and launchers for the Iris-T systems. We are grateful for this. I especially thank for this agreement. It is important that we continue to work also on other types of missiles, both for the Iris and for the Patriots,” Zelensky stated.
The Patriot (Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target) is the long-range ground-to-air defense system produced by the American company Raytheon Technologies. It is a mobile ground-based missile interceptor deployed to detect, track, and engage drones, cruise missiles, and tactical and short-range ballistic missiles. Meanwhile, the Iris-T are air defense systems from the German company Diehl Defence.
The agreements indeed include strengthening air defense capabilities, considered a priority in the context of the ongoing conflict.
BERLIN’S POSITION
During the meeting, the German Chancellor emphasized the strategic value of cooperation with Kyiv, highlighting the level of experience gained by the Ukrainian armed forces.
‘It is also advantageous for us, for our security, because no army in Europe has been tested in combat as much as the Ukrainian one. No society has become more resilient than the Ukrainian one, no defense industry has become more innovative than the Ukrainian one,” Merz said.
As Reuters recalls, Germany is the main European supplier of military aid to Kyiv. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the German government has provided about 55 billion euros and allocated 11.5 billion euros in the current budget.
4 BILLION EURO COOPERATION PACKAGE
Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced that the two countries have agreed on a broad cooperation package worth 4 billion euros.
“We have agreed on a defense agreement package totaling 4 billion euros, to strengthen air defense, develop long-range capabilities, and joint drone production,” wrote Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov on his Telegram channel.
According to reports, Germany has committed to financing a contract for several hundred missiles for the Patriot systems. German authorities are also expected to provide Ukrainian forces with 36 Iris-T launchers, thus strengthening the multilayer air defense system. Furthermore, Ukraine and Germany have agreed on investments of 300 million euros in long-range capabilities. According to Fedorov, this will help increase Ukrainian weapons production.
“Deeply grateful for Germany’s leadership in providing PAC-3 missiles to save our power grid. Discussed technological cooperation: DELTA data sharing, supply of medium-range and anti-ballistic missiles through Purl” Fedorov also wrote in a post on X.
WHAT IS THE PURL INITIATIVE CITED BY UKRAINIAN MINISTER FEDOROV
The Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (Purl) is the NATO initiative under which US-made weapons, particularly Patriot air defense missiles, are purchased by European partners. The mechanism is provided for by the agreement reached during a bilateral at the White House last July between US President Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, which provides for the sale of armaments and defense systems to alliance countries, which will then purchase them to deliver to Ukraine, engaged in defending itself from Russian aggression.
TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT AND DRONE PRODUCTION
Regarding joint drone production, the two countries, within the framework of the “Build with Ukraine” initiative, will start joint production of medium-range attack drones using artificial intelligence. “In the first phase, 5,000 drones will be produced for Ukrainian defenders,” specified the Ukrainian minister.
On its part, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that the project will create a joint venture to supply thousands of drones to the Ukrainian army. Berlin has also agreed to invest several hundred million euros to finance so-called deep strike capabilities, Reuters further notes.
EU LOAN FOCUS AFTER HUNGARIAN VOTE
Finally, Ukrainian President Zelensky stated that Ukraine has the capacity to double its national weapons production if adequate funding is provided.
“Most of the weapons that Ukraine uses for various operations, from attacks against targets inland and frontline fighting to air defense, are currently produced in Ukraine,” Zelensky said at a press conference alongside Chancellor Merz, as reported by Dw. However, he clarified that “We simply don’t have the money, but today we discussed it, at least in part.”
Ukraine is indeed hoping for the 90 billion euro loan granted by the European Union but blocked by Hungary. Last December EU leaders agreed to lend Kyiv 90 billion euros to help cover its needs in 2026 and 2027. The EU Council stated in a note that two-thirds of the funds (60 billion euros) would be spent on military aid and one-third (30 billion) on general budget support.
The recent electoral defeat in Hungary of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a close ally of Russia who had blocked EU aid to Ukraine, has raised “good hopes” that the aid “can be unlocked very quickly,” the German government said earlier this week. Now Berlin “assumes that the new Hungarian government will respect this decision,” said German government spokesman Stefan Kornelius, adding that funds could be unlocked as soon as the new Prime Minister Petr Magyar “is able to act.”
