Ukraine and Germany agree on new aid packages

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced that Kyiv and Berlin have agreed on new aid packages.

Merz said at a joint press conference with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Germany has provided unprecedented support to Ukraine and has become its most important partner in 2026.

Today Germany and Ukraine have once again agreed on new aid packages, primarily in air defence, he stressed.

According to Merz, the agreement covers not only air defence but also long-range weapons, drones and ammunition.

Update at 14:05: Zelenskyy said that Germany and Ukraine had signed 10 agreements at various levels. In particular, he noted that the agreements concern air defence, specifically missiles for Patriot PAC-2 systems.

"These include PAC-2 missiles and launchers. As for the IRIS-T systems, we are grateful for them. We would like to thank you separately for this agreement," the Ukrainian president said.

He added that Ukraine had proposed a bilateral agreement with Germany on drones. There is also an agreement on a new German contribution to Ukrainian drone production.

"I appreciate that cooperation between Ukraine and Germany has reached the level of a substantive strategic partnership (…) This format of intergovernmental consultations between our states is taking place today for the first time in more than 20 years. We expect that the next consultations between the governments will take place next year, not after another 20 years," Zelenskyy said.

Amid intensified Russian attacks in January 2026, Franziska Brantner, co-leader of Germany's opposition Green Party, called on the government to strengthen Ukraine's air defence and supply Kyiv with long-range Taurus missiles.

However, Merz has said he no longer sees a need to supply Ukraine with Taurus long-range cruise missiles given Kyiv's technological progress on the battlefield.