Germany and Ukraine signed a €4 billion defense package on Tuesday, including hundreds of Patriot missiles and joint drone production, as the two countries held their first bilateral government consultations since 2004.
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Defense ministers from both countries also agreed to share digital battlefield data aimed at developing new weapons systems.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a brief visit to the German capital for talks with Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Around midday, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and his Ukrainian counterpart Mykhailo Fedorov signed the defense agreement.
According to the German defense ministry, the deal will focus in particular on analyzing how German systems are used on the battlefield, including the PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer, the RCH 155 artillery system and IRIS-T air defense.
It will also involve sharing Ukrainian expertise and battlefield data, including from digital platforms such as Avengers and DELTA. These systems gather real-time information from the front, link it across units and feed it into command structures to enable faster military decision-making.
A joint European system developed with Ukraine could further strengthen the continent’s strategic independence, Merz said after the signing.
Shortly afterwards, Fedorov announced on Telegram the €4 billion defense package between Germany and Ukraine.
The package includes several hundred Patriot missiles and 36 IRIS-T launchers to strengthen air defenses, €300 million in investment in Ukraine’s long-range strike capabilities, and the joint production of 5,000 AI-enabled mid-range strike drones for the armed forces.
‘Biggest agreement of its kind in Europe’
Zelenskyy said a total of 10 agreements had been signed, stressing that the military elements were the most important, including deliveries of IRIS-T systems and missiles for US-made Patriot air defenses.
He added that new anti-ballistic systems would be produced, along with capabilities “to protect against any drones, any air attacks”.
“Our experience can be integrated into the European security system,” he said, adding that Ukraine’s battlefield know-how would also prove valuable in the Middle East.
He also pointed to a new “framework document” on drones agreed with Germany – similar to a deal Ukraine recently struck in the Middle East – describing it as the “biggest agreement of its kind in Europe”.
Germany finances Raytheon deal
According to the defense ministry, Germany is financing a contract between Ukraine and Raytheon to deliver several hundred Patriot missiles to bolster Ukraine’s air defenses.
“In addition, further launchers for IRIS-T air defense systems have been agreed with Diehl Defense. This project will also be financed by Germany and will significantly improve the protection of critical infrastructure and cities,” the German defense ministry said.
Merz said that Berlin is placing greater emphasis on joint armaments projects, not only to support Ukraine but also to strengthen the security of Germany and Europe.
He described the Ukrainian military as one of the most battle-hardened in Europe, with a defense industry regarded as “particularly innovative”.
Merz said cooperation between the two countries was now “more effective” and ties “deeper than ever”, although he added that the relationship should be taken to a new level.
He also reiterated that Germany had already provided support on an “unprecedented scale”, making it one of Ukraine’s most important bilateral partners.
‘Build with Ukraine’
Fedorov was received at the defense ministry on Tuesday morning, where talks with Pistorius focused on joint ventures between German and Ukrainian defense firms.
According to the ministry, the two sides agreed to produce medium- and long-range drones using advanced technologies under the “Build with Ukraine” initiative.
The project includes establishing a joint venture to supply thousands of drones to bolster the capabilities of Ukraine’s armed forces, although it remains unclear which manufacturer will be involved.
One company is already linked to the initiative Quantum Systems. Its cooperation with Ukrainian firm Frontline Robotics is said to have produced around 10,000 multi-purpose quadcopter drones for Ukraine’s military.
The Quantum Frontline Industries joint venture was launched by Zelenskyy and Pistorius on the sidelines of this year’s Munich Security Conference.
According to the company, the first batch of drones was delivered at the end of March.
Managing director Matthias Lehna said the venture demonstrates how production capacity can be ramped up in Germany within weeks, with operational systems reliably delivered to Ukraine.
“We are convinced that this form of cooperation will form a central pillar of Europe’s future defense capabilities,” he said.
‘Unity Hubs’ for Ukrainians considering return
Representatives at Tuesday’s German-Ukrainian government consultations also included Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Social Policy Minister Denys Uliutin, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov and Fedorov.
Alongside Uliutin, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt opened a new advisory center in Berlin’s government district for Ukrainians considering a return home.
Dobrindt said similar hubs are planned across Germany and Europe. He described the so-called Unity Hubs as a “point of contact” where Ukrainians in Germany can find answers about their future and prospects back home — acting as a “bridge to their homeland”.
But he said the centers are intended to go beyond basic advice, calling them a “genuine place of togetherness” — bringing together culture, business and community life across generations, from the very young to the elderly.
Economic cooperation and reconstruction
Another agreement, signed ahead of the press conference by Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan and her Ukrainian counterpart Oleksii Sobolev, focuses on industrial reconstruction in Ukraine.
A document Outlining the agreements says Germany will provide Ukraine with broad support for reconstruction and reforms — including economic, social and institutional backing at the local level.
Development cooperation is to be expanded, with new funds allocated to energy, infrastructure, housing construction, and administration.
Closer economic cooperation is also planned, including through a new German-Ukrainian working group for business and trade.
The aim is to promote investment and initiate joint projects — for example, in the construction of affordable housing — which also open up opportunities for German companies.
Cooperation in areas such as cyber, agriculture, hydrogen and critical raw materials is also to be intensified.
One focus is on a resilient, sustainable energy system and digitalization, including government services and infrastructure, with the aim of linking the two countries more closely.