BERLIN — Ukraine and Germany agreed on a strategic defence partnership covering cooperation on drones, missiles, software, modern defence systems and digital combat data. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the partnership at a news conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on April 14, 2026.

Under the terms of the agreement, Germany gains access to Ukraine's drone expertise developed during the war against the Russian invasion, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, in exchange for additional German military support. Germany will continue supporting Ukraine's drone industry and will establish drone co-production ventures. The deal also covers the exchange of digital combat data for the development of new weapons systems.

The joint declaration commits both countries to strengthen cooperation in the air defence field. The German defence ministry said it had agreed to fund contracts for several hundred Patriot missiles from the United States as part of that effort.

"It's also beneficial for us, for our security, because no army in Europe has been as battle-tested in recent decades as Ukraine's," Merz said at the news conference. Mykhailo Fedorov used social media to thank German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius for a military package worth four billion euros, saying the package would boost Ukraine's air defence to protect cities and critical infrastructure.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine has the production capacity to produce twice as much military equipment as it is currently deploying but said the country lacks the funding to step up production. The partnership with Germany is intended to address both the equipment and financing dimensions of Ukraine's defence needs.

Tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilians have been killed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.