Ukraine and Germany to launch programme for defence start-ups

Ukraine and Germany are planning to launch Brave Germany, a joint programme to develop defence technologies and support innovative start-ups.

Source: Ukrinform, a Ukrainian news agency

Details: Ukrinform noted that Ukraine's Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius have signed a corresponding letter of intent in Kyiv and held a joint briefing.

"Today Germany is the number one country in the world in terms of security assistance to Ukraine," Fedorov said, as quoted by Ukrinform. "It accounts for around one-third of all aid provided to our country. I would also like to express my gratitude for the quality of this support and for backing the key areas of our country's defence. First and foremost – air defence."

Fedorov said Germany supports key areas of Ukraine's defence, primarily air defence, including funding the procurement of hundreds of missiles for Patriot systems.

He recalled a recently signed major missile contract, which is already being financed by the German side.

"Next year we will begin receiving these missiles, and this is an unprecedented aid package for us," Fedorov said.

The Ukrainian defence minister added that thanks to the financing of additional missiles, Ukraine was able to get through the winter and protect critical infrastructure facilities during Russian attacks.

Fedorov also highlighted an initiative by Pistorius within the framework of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (also known as the Ramstein format), which supported an additional package of PAC-3 missiles and enabled Ukraine to receive missiles from European stockpiles.

According to the Ukrainian minister, Germany is also financing interceptor drones, IRIS-T systems and missiles as well as mid-range and long-range capabilities.

"Mid-range capabilities currently enable us to disrupt the enemy's logistics. In other words, this again speaks to the quality of support and the financing of the most relevant areas," Fedorov noted.

He also said that Germany has allocated the first tranche of funding to support drone assault units within Ukraine's defence forces.

Fedorov added that Ukraine and Germany continue to implement the plan approved at the latest Ramstein format meeting.

Background: Earlier, Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger confirmed that the company would be able to supply Ukraine with 100,000 long-range 155mm artillery shells.

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