German Arms Industry Delegation Arrives in Ukraine Seeking Joint Ventures
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said that a delegation from the defence industry had arrived in Kyiv with him.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to European Pravda.
During a press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrij Sibiha in Kyiv, Wadefuell said that Ukraine and Germany had agreed to strengthen cooperation in the defence industry.
‘We want to create new joint ventures so that Ukraine can produce more quickly and in greater quantities for its own defence, because your needs are enormous,’ he said.
The German foreign minister then emphasised that on 30 June, he had brought a delegation from the defence industry with him for the first time.
"Our cooperation in the defence sector is a real trump card. It is a logical continuation of our supplies of materials, and we can even benefit from it, because thanks to your ingenuity and experience, we are also becoming better. We see our task as helping Ukraine so that it can negotiate from a position of strength," Wadephul emphasised.
When asked what kind of cooperation in the defence sector he expects, Wadephul did not give a direct answer.
‘I believe that we are now entering a new phase of cooperation and that we need to involve more German companies in Ukraine. The willingness to do so is there, but we need to overcome some obstacles, bureaucratic barriers and other problems in cooperation,’ he said.
Therefore, according to him, he has now brought ‘representatives of the defence industry to the President of Ukraine so that we can discuss these issues.’
‘I believe that closer cooperation on this issue is in the interests of both sides,’ he added.
The German foreign minister also emphasised that when Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin talks about peace, it is pure bluff.
‘His alleged willingness to negotiate is just a facade. He wants, as he has once again clearly stated, to subjugate the whole of Ukraine and at the same time intimidate the whole of Europe,’ he added.
It is worth noting that in the autumn of 2024, a joint venture between the German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall and Ukrainian Defence Industry was officially registered.
In early June, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced that Germany would provide Ukraine with additional military aid worth €1.9 billion.
As The Gaze reported earlier, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul arrived in Kyiv on Monday, delivering a strong message of solidarity as the country faces the most intense wave of Russian airstrikes since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.