Germany will draw on Ukraine's experience in combating drones
Ukraine and Germany have signed an agreement to deepen cooperation in the field of countering drones. According to Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Germany will make greater use of Ukraine’s experience gained during the war, and German and Ukrainian companies will continue to work together on new technologies.
Friedrich Merz announced the signing of the agreement in Kyiv during a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. According to the chancellor, Germany wants to make even more active use of Ukraine’s experience in countering drones. It is precisely for this purpose that the two countries have agreed on a separate agreement. “We will also make even greater use of Ukraine’s experience in countering drones. To this end, we have signed a corresponding agreement,” said Merz.
He emphasized that defense cooperation works both ways. Germany supports Ukraine with weapons and other resources, but at the same time, Ukraine’s experience is becoming important for Germany itself. “Germany helps Ukraine, but Ukraine also helps Germany. Representatives of the defense industry who are accompanying me today are learning from Ukraine’s wartime experience,” the chancellor stated.
Merz added that this is not just about exchanging experiences. German and Ukrainian companies are already working on joint high-tech projects. “Conversely, German and Ukrainian companies are establishing high-tech joint ventures,” he noted.
The chancellor also mentioned the incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport on August 4. A drone carrying an explosive device was discovered there near a Ukrainian An-124 transport aircraft. Operations at the airport were temporarily suspended due to the incident, and German law enforcement launched an investigation. The German government subsequently stated that the country is increasingly facing hybrid threats and drone-related incidents. According to the government, following the incident in Leipzig, Germany is also stepping up measures to protect airports from drones.
That is why, according to Merz, Ukraine’s experience in this area is particularly important for Germany. Ukraine faces massive drone attacks on a daily basis and is forced to constantly improve its methods for detecting and destroying them. For Kyiv, such cooperation also means the development of joint defense technologies. Ukrainian and German manufacturers can exchange best practices and create new solutions for protection against drones.
Thus, the new agreement entails more than just Germany providing aid to Ukraine. Berlin also plans to use Ukraine’s experience to strengthen its own defenses against drones, and defense companies from both countries are set to continue working together on new technologies.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine will continue to respond to Russian strikes, particularly those targeting bridges. According to him, Russia is also attacking civilian infrastructure—warehouses, data centers, and mobile communication facilities. Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine does not plan to leave such attacks unanswered.
