German defence minister arrives in Kyiv Military Support on agenda

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has arrived in Kyiv for talks with Ukraine's leadership on further military assistance in repelling Russian aggression.

“It is important for me to show with this trip that we continue to actively support Ukraine. It is a signal that Germany, as the largest NATO country in Europe, stands by Ukraine. Not alone, but together with the five countries and many other allies,” he told journalists in Kyiv, according to Caliber.Az, citing German media reports.

On January 13 evening, Pistorius held talks in Warsaw with colleagues from Poland, France, Italy and Britain on further assistance to Kyiv. Germany, together with four major European partners, intends to step up efforts to strengthen Ukraine's defence industry.

Germany allocated around 8 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine in 2024. The federal budget for 2025 contains only half of that, with Berlin hoping that a G7 loan can cover additional assistance.

Under German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's leadership, Germany has become Ukraine's second-largest military donor after the U.S. The chancellor has nevertheless often been criticized for his cautious approach to some key issues, such as his refusal to provide Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine.  

Notably, ahead of Trump's inauguration, it remains unclear what will happen next with Western support for Ukraine. Trump has repeatedly spoken of his desire to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to bring the war in Ukraine to a swift end, but European allies are not privy to his specific plans. Ukraine fears Trump could significantly cut US aid, leading to Kyiv's defeat in the war.

By Khagan Isayev