Ukraine and Germany sign agreement on developing ballistic missile defence

Ukraine and Germany signed a defence agreement on 18 June concerning the joint development of an air defence system to intercept ballistic missiles.

Source: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius ahead of a Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting (also known as the Ramstein format), as reported by European Pravda

Details: Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine has recently made great progress in defending against enemy drones, but Russian ballistic missiles remain a major challenge.

"So today Ukraine and Germany are taking a very important joint step. We have some technologies and Germany has some technologies. And today our defence ministers have already signed an agreement to bring these capabilities together," the president announced.

"Mykhailo [Fedorov] and I signed an agreement today that will pave the way for the joint development of a new air defence system to counter ballistic missiles, if industry can come to an understanding. Several German companies are interested in this project. It can make an important contribution to security in Europe and Ukraine," Pistorius said.

Zelenskyy noted that he hopes to see concrete results from cooperation with allies in the field of ballistic missile defence by the winter of 2026.

"This is something all need, not only Ukraine, and it is a long-term effort. Please support it at every level and in every possible way," he said.

Zelenskyy also announced new contributions from allies to the PURL programme for purchasing American weapons for Ukraine.

A scheduled meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, chaired by the UK and Germany, is taking place in Brussels on the afternoon of 18 June.

President Zelenskyy and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte are attending in person.

Background:

• On 18 June, Germany announced it would allocate Ukraine a further US$400 million for air defence and Patriot missiles under the PURL and Jumpstart programmes.
• Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken has announced plans to supply F-16 fighter jets to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

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