According to the news agency DPA, German Minister Boris Pistorius arrived in Kyiv by train on the morning of May 11. The purpose of the surprise visit is to discuss the expansion of the strategic partnership and the joint development of new weapon systems.
Pistorius emphasized to journalists that Germany is particularly interested in the Ukrainian platform Brave1, which consolidates innovations in defense technologies. The focus is on the joint development of advanced unmanned systems of all ranges, especially for deep strikes. Cooperation on long-range weapons is necessary to close gaps in the European security architecture, the Welt reports, citing the minister.
The Brave1 platform is to be used to support promising developers, with Pistorius quoted as saying: "We plan to use the Brave1 platform to promote developers who can present promising innovations." Neither the minister's Facebook page nor the Bundeswehr's account had initially announced the visit.
Just in April, the German government decided to provide Ukraine with four billion euros for military aid. The funds are to be invested in air defense, long-range weapons, and joint drone production. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had agreed on deliveries of PAC2 missiles for Patriot systems and IRIS-T missiles during his visit to Berlin. Financial Times also reported on intensified German-American discussions regarding the purchase of Tomahawk cruise missiles after Washington announced it would reduce the US troop presence in Europe.
