Defence chief: Germany gains from Ukraine support

Germany is benefiting from its military support for Ukraine, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Tuesday, April 28, highlighting how Berlin is drawing practical lessons from Kyiv’s wartime experience.

Speaking at a roundtable that brought together government officials from both countries as well as representatives of German industry, Pistorius said Germany is gaining insights from Ukraine in areas such as drone technology and cyber defence.

“Ukraine is a country that, out of necessity, has developed an unbelievable capacity for innovation and speed,” Pistorius said. “They do not develop technologies under laboratory conditions, but rather — quite literally — on the battlefield.”

As part of efforts to deepen cooperation, Pistorius said the German Defence Ministry plans to deploy additional military attaches to the German embassy in Kyiv, where they will serve as key points of contact for closer defence collaboration.

German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche, who also took part in the discussions, announced plans to establish a dedicated liaison office to support German companies seeking partnerships with Ukrainian counterparts.

Meanwhile, German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said after the talks that Germany’s 2027 budget — due to be presented on Wednesday — will underscore the government’s continued commitment to supporting Ukraine.

Under previously announced plans, Germany is expected to allocate €11.6 billion ($13.6 billion) in military and related support to Ukraine in 2027, followed by €8.5 billion annually between 2028 and 2030.

By Tamilla Hasanova