Ukrainian Defense Minister Umerov meets with his German counterpart Pistorius in Kyiv. Ukraine will receive 60 new missiles for the IRIS-T air defense system and discussed the supply of artillery shells.
The President of Ukraine discussed with the German Defense Minister the importance of all political forces supporting Ukraine. Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine is defending not only itself but also European values.
The President of Ukraine reported on more than 100 brigades on the battlefield that need to update their military equipment on a daily basis. Zelenskyy emphasized the priority of technical equipment and training for the military.
Boris Pistorius unexpectedly arrived in Kyiv for negotiations with the Ukrainian government. The German Defense Minister plans to discuss further assistance and obtain information about the situation on the front.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius handed over the first RCH 155 wheeled howitzer to the Ambassador of Ukraine. By the end of the year, Ukraine will receive 5 more such systems, and a total of 54 howitzers are planned to be delivered.
Boris Pistorius denied information that the Chancellor had blocked a €3 billion military aid package. The minister confirmed that the new aid package is being agreed upon by the government.
German Foreign Minister Baerbock spoke out against reducing the financing of arms deliveries to Ukraine from €7 billion. She also criticized Russia's use of a "shadow fleet" in the Baltic Sea.
Germany is creating a fourth division within the Army to protect critical infrastructure. The new unit will include 6 terror defense regiments with a total of 6,000 personnel.
The German Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry prepared a plan for additional military assistance to Ukraine worth 3 billion euros. Chancellor Scholz did not approve the initiative, explaining that there is sufficient funding for 2025.
Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak announced the preparation of a new package of military assistance for Ukraine. The "Ramstein" meeting also approved 8 roadmaps for the Ukrainian Armed Forces until 2027.
German Defense Minister Pistorius announced new deliveries of air defense systems and armored vehicles to Ukraine. It is also planned to train 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers in Germany during the year.
A series of incidents in the Baltic Sea, including the shooting of a German helicopter and damage to an undersea cable, point to hybrid warfare by Russia. NATO recorded about 300 interceptions of Russian aircraft last year.
The German Defense Minister said there were no plans to send soldiers to Ukraine until the end of the war. At the same time, he did not rule out the possibility of deploying the Bundeswehr for a peacekeeping mission.
Swedish law enforcement officials have received permission from China to inspect the Yi Peng 3 in a case of damage to submarine cables in the Baltic Sea. The vessel is suspected of deliberately damaging cables between Finland-Germany and Sweden-Lithuania.
Germany's defense minister has announced the country's possible participation in securing a future ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Specific details of the peacekeeping mission have not yet been discussed due to the absence of cease-fire talks.
During a visit to Berlin, the Lithuanian Defense Minister agreed on the largest purchase of military equipment in the country's history. Lithuania will purchase 44 German Leopard-2 tanks.
The German Defense Minister announced a possible role for the country in ensuring a future ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. The specific details of participation will depend on the terms of the ceasefire and the mandate of the peacekeeping force.
Italian Defense Minister Crozetto announced the country's readiness to participate in a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine. However, Foreign Minister Tajani considers such a discussion premature, emphasizing the need to achieve a “just peace.
German Defense Minister Pistorius did not rule out the possibility of sending German peacekeepers to Ukraine in the future. This issue is not currently being considered, but the final decision will depend on the "conditions that have been created".
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz denied the possibility of sending German troops to Ukraine. He called Foreign Minister Burbock's statement only a “diplomatic response” to a hypothetical question.
The head of the BND, Bruno Kahl, said that Russia is preparing for war with the West by the end of the decade. According to him, Russia can carry out a limited military operation against NATO countries to undermine the alliance.
The defense ministers of Germany, France, Italy, Poland, and the UK met in Berlin to discuss military assistance to Ukraine. They emphasized the importance of coordination and efficient use of defense budgets.
The SPD has unanimously nominated Olaf Scholz as its candidate for chancellor in the early elections in 2025. The decision came after the rejection of the more popular Boris Pistorius and the collapse of the “traffic light coalition”.
The German Defense Minister said that Russia's war against Ukraine is no longer a regional one, but a threat to the whole of Europe. Putin has switched to a war economy and is waging a hybrid war with disinformation.
Olaf Scholz will be nominated as the SPD candidate for chancellor in the early elections in 2025. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius withdrew from the election in favor of Scholz.
Boris Pistorius has announced that he will not run for the post of German Chancellor. This is his personal decision, despite the support of the SPD and his greater popularity compared to Scholz.
Sweden is investigating the damage to two data cables in the Baltic Sea, looking into the involvement of the Chinese ship Yi Peng 3. Germany considers the incident an act of hybrid warfare.
Germany starts supplying Ukraine with 4000 Mini-Taurus UAVs with artificial intelligence. The drones are able to withstand Russian GPS jamming and can attack important military targets.
German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck announced his intention to reconsider Scholz's decision on TAURUS if he becomes Chancellor. Earlier, CDU candidate Friedrich Merz made a similar pledge.
At a closed-door meeting, SPD MPs expressed dissatisfaction with Olaf Scholz as a candidate for the election. They propose to replace him with the more popular Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.