Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius in Kyiv on Thursday, where the two discussed the joint production of long-range cruise missiles, drones and rockets,
“The image of war has changed,” Pistorius said. “Starting with jets and tanks, which were the focus of attention, it then shifted to artillery for many years and remains so today.”
Germany’s defense chief said that modern conflicts increasingly revolve around electromagnetic warfare and drones.
“This alone makes clear what we can learn from each other. And that’s why it’s good for us to start producing together,” he said.
“As far as production is concerned, we are talking about production in Ukraine, but also in Germany,” Zelenskyy said. Discussions are taking place “about our long-range weapons, our drones, Ukrainian missile technologies, cruise missiles and other long-range capabilities,” he added.
Under the plan, Germany would contribute the funds, while Ukraine would contribute its technical expertise. The first systems are expected to be combat-ready in the coming months.
During the visit, Pistorius also announced total German military aid worth €9 billion ($10.4 billion) for 2025.
He emphasized that his visit underscored the commitment of Germany’s new government to support Ukraine. But he also said Germany is not considering sending long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, despite repeated requests from Kyiv.