Germany and Ukraine aim to deepen their bilateral cooperation. During the first joint government consultations in over two decades, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) announced at the Chancellery on Tuesday that they agreed to elevate their bilateral ties to the level of a strategic partnership.
“We want to learn even more from each other than in the past and invest in our common future” he stated. “We desire a sovereign and democratic Ukraine as a powerful partner in a free, secure, and prosperous Europe”.
Merz added that the consultations saw agreements on further comprehensive support measures, including air defense, long-range weaponry, drones, and artillery ammunition. He argued that this cooperation benefits more than just Ukraine’s defense. “It is also of particular benefit to our security, because no army in Europe has been tested in combat like the one in Ukraine in recent decades”.
Several declarations of intent were also signed during the government consultations. They included a future exchange of digital combat data to develop new weapon systems. Furthermore, both countries plan to collaborate closely on digitalization, also addressing the modernization of public services, as Merz announced. An additional agreement on industrial reconstruction was also signed. “Therefore, we will intensify our cooperation in these areas, as well as in agriculture, hydrogen infrastructure, and critical raw materials” the Chancellor concluded.