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Boris Pistorius, Germany’s defense minister, arrived in Kyiv on Monday morning, May 11, the news agency DPA reported.
According to Bild, Pistorius is expected to discuss the development of new weapons systems in cooperation with Ukraine. Speaking to reporters, he said bilateral cooperation should be further expanded, emphasizing that strengthening this strategic partnership is the main goal of his visit.
“Germany and Ukraine are strategic partners that both benefit from this cooperation. It is leading to numerous new projects, with a focus on the joint development of cutting-edge unmanned systems across all ranges, particularly for deep-strike capabilities. In this way, we are strengthening the security of our countries,” the minister said.
Earlier, the Financial Times reported that Donald Trump’s decision to reduce U.S. troop levels in Germany highlighted Europe’s lack of long-range deterrence capabilities against Russian missiles, as the continent has not produced such systems for decades. Although Germany, France, Poland, and Italy launched a joint long-range missile development initiative known as Elsa in 2024, most projects remain at an early stage and are not expected to be operational until the 2030s. German officials have indicated they may turn to Ukraine to leverage its technologies.
Pistorius is also planning a trip to Washington, D.C. to resume talks on acquiring long-range Tomahawk missile systems, with reports suggesting Berlin is willing to pay a premium to secure them.
