Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and First Deputy Minister Serhiy Boiev held a meeting with a delegation from the German Federal Ministry of Defense to discuss expanding security support and forging a strategic partnership in the defense industry.
Deputy Defense Ministers Lieutenant General Yevhen Moisiuk and Lieutenant General Mykola Shevtsov also took part in the talks. The German delegation was headed by Major General Christian Freuding, Director of the Joint Planning and Command Staff of the German Defense Ministry.
“Germany is among the leaders in military assistance to Ukraine, and we value that. However, air and missile defense systems and ammunition remain critical needs. We must find ways to scale up production capacity,” said Defense Minister Umerov.
The Ukrainian side proposed several practical steps to enhance strategic cooperation between the defense sectors of the two countries, including joint production of air and missile defense systems and ammunition, potential localization of German weapons manufacturing in Ukraine, and opportunities for Ukrainian defense production on German soil.
“2025 is crucial for Ukraine’s defense, so it is important not to waste a single day in decision-making and organizing deliveries,” emphasized First Deputy Minister Serhiy Boiev.
The two sides also focused on expanding cooperation in unmanned systems. Umerov highlighted Ukraine’s readiness for technological partnership:
“Ukraine has great potential in developing modern unmanned systems, and we are open to technological cooperation.”
