Ukraine conflict: Germany pledges EUR5 billion in support for Ukrainian defence industry

Germany has delivered the IRIS-T SLM (Surface Launched Medium Range) ground-based air defence (GBAD) system to Ukraine, then Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov tweeted on 11 October 2022. (Diehl)

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and his Ukrainian counterpart, Rustem Umerov, signed an agreement on 28 May for Berlin to support Ukrainian weapon production. The package is worth around EUR5 billion (USD5.7 billion).

Germany's Federal Ministry of Defence (BMVg) announced in a press release on 28 May that Berlin would in future support the production of long-range fires systems in Ukraine. The ministry said that Ukraine would produce a considerable number of long-range fires systems domestically in 2025, with the first systems expected to be deployed in a few weeks. The systems are already in service, so no additional training is required, according to the BMVg.

In addition, Germany will continue to supply artillery ammunition already pledged and to deliver more, including for air-defence systems. Germany also intends to provide Ukraine with additional land weapon systems and small arms.

Umerov also signed an agreement with Diehl on the supply of air-defence systems and ammunition. Germany has delivered Diehl IRIS-T SLM (Surface Launched Medium Range) ground-based air-defence systems to Ukraine.

To support Ukrainian command capabilities and sustainability, Germany will finance maintenance facilities in Ukraine, with defence companies from the two countries having formed joint ventures.

Germany is also providing Ukraine with financial support for satellite communications over a longer period, as agreed in April, as well as command communications and medical equipment, the BMVg said. In a joint press conference after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier on 28 May, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that Germany finances a considerable part of the Starlink coverage of Ukraine.