Ukraine signed 15 agreements with German companies covering air defense, drones and energy, with deals totaling 8.5 billion euros, its presidential office said Sunday after a business forum in Kyiv attended by Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
The agreements cover interceptor drones, air defense systems, radars, artillery, unmanned ground vehicles and energy projects, according to Ukraine’s presidential office.
“Security is the number one issue,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at the Ukrainian-German Business Forum.
The package includes interceptors, munitions for F-16 fighter jets and an air defense system, he said. Ukraine will receive some of it as German aid and buy the rest from German companies.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine would also share its technology and production experience with German businesses. In a post on X, he wrote that Ukrainian orders would bring business to German companies and strengthen industries in both countries.
Ukraine’s Defense Ministry signed three memoranda with Diehl Defence on buying IRIS-T air defense systems, missiles for them and munitions. Ukraine already has a large IRIS-T order with the company, which Zelenskyy said would be financed in part with money from a European loan.
The ministry also signed a memorandum with Hensoldt to buy radars and a letter of intent with Quantum Systems on testing and buying interceptor drones. Work will continue on expanding Patriot missile production in Germany, the office said.
Under a separate contract, Ukraine’s National Guard and Quantum Systems will move some Ukrainian drone production to Germany. Ukraine’s emergency service and Alpha Robotics Germany agreed to cooperate on unmanned systems for firefighting and rescue work.
Other deals paired Quantum Systems with Fire Point, ARX Robotics with Roboneers, and Helsing with Culver Aerospace.
At a news conference, Zelenskyy said tests of the German-Ukrainian Spys interceptor had produced positive results. A small Nika missile designed to counter jet-powered Shahed drones is still in development and has yet to be tested.
On energy, Ukraine’s grid operator Ukrenergo signed a memorandum with German grid operators 50Hertz and Amprion to help Ukraine obtain equipment to restore and strengthen its power system.
Ukraine’s Energy Ministry and Naftogaz signed separate memoranda with Siemens Energy covering the possible use of 12 gas turbine units, protection of energy infrastructure, modernization of underground gas storage and power generation projects.
Merz called the meeting a sign of strong partnership.
“We are here because we believe in Ukraine’s future. We want to be part of it,” he said.
Rebuilding Ukraine, he added, would create major economic opportunities for both countries.
The two countries agreed to deepen cooperation in energy, agriculture, defense, digitalization and construction, Merz said. He pointed to Industrial Ramstein, an initiative that supplies war-affected Ukrainian companies with equipment and spare parts and connects them with European manufacturers. He also pledged German support through the winter.
The forum took place during Merz’s visit to Kyiv, where Zelenskyy earlier announced a separate German support package worth more than 1.3 billion euros, including weapons and energy aid.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine is also seeking German participation in rebuilding the country after the war. He thanked German business representatives for traveling to Kyiv despite the threat of Russian air raids.
