Germany to help Ukraine make more weapons to strengthen hand in peace talks
Our institutions are working on the synchronization of European and Ukrainian sanctions. We are also fully aligning the European sanctions package targeting the regime in Iran, which includes numerous individuals, companies, and entities not only involved in military production… pic.twitter.com/cdUdJnbeo7
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 29, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin has effectively rejected a ceasefire and has not budged from his war goals.
'When Putin speaks of peace today, it is pure mockery,' Mr Wadephul told a news conference with Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha.
'His apparent readiness to negotiate is only a facade so far.'
Russia's invasion shows no sign of letting up.
Its grinding war of attrition along the roughly 1,000-kilometre (620-mile) front line and long-range strikes on civilian areas of Ukraine have killed thousands of troops and civilians.
Ukraine is outgunned and short-handed on the front line and international aid has been vital for Ukraine's resistance against its neighbour's bigger army and economy.
Germany has been Ukraine's second-largest military backer after the United States, whose continuing support is in doubt.
'We want to build new joint ventures so that Ukraine itself can produce faster and more for its own defence, because your needs are enormous,' Mr Wadephul said while standing next to Mr Sybiha.
German foreign minister Johann Wadephul, left, and Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha talk during their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)
'Our arms cooperation is a real trump card — it is a logical continuation of our delivery of material,' Mr Wadephul said.
'And we can even benefit mutually from it — with your wealth of ideas and your experience, we will become better.'
Mr Wadephul was also due to meet with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The top German diplomat's trip to Kyiv came less than 48 hours after Russia launched its biggest combined aerial attack against Ukraine over the weekend, Ukrainian officials said, in an escalating bombing campaign that has further dashed hopes for a breakthrough in peace efforts.
Ukraine's air force said on Monday it detected 107 Russian Shahed and decoy drones in the country's air space overnight.
Strikes in Ukraine's north-eastern Kharkiv region left two civilians dead and eight injured, including a six-year-old child, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said on Monday.
The aerial onslaughts are calculated by Russia to squeeze Ukraine into submission, according to the Institute for the Study of War.
'Russia is continuing to use increasingly large numbers of drones in its overnight strike packages in order to overwhelm Ukrainian air defences and enable subsequent cruise and ballistic missile strikes,' the Washington-based think tank said late on Sunday.
German foreign minister Johann Wadephul, left, and Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha stand at the entrance of St Michael Monastery in Kyiv (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)
'The increases in Russia's strike packages in recent weeks are largely due to Russia's efforts to scale up its defence industrial production, particularly of Shahed and decoy drones and ballistic missiles,' the institute added.
Mr Sybiha thanked Germany for its contribution to Ukraine's air defence and urged Berlin to send more anti-missile systems.
The Russians 'are attacking civilian targets in order to create panic, to influence the mood of our population', he said. 'The key is the air defence system.'
Berlin has balked at granting Mr Zelensky's request to provide Ukraine with powerful German and Swedish-made Taurus long-range missiles, which could potentially hit targets inside Russia.
That is due to fears such a move could enrage the Kremlin and draw Nato into Europe's biggest conflict since the Second World War.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged in May to help Ukraine develop its own long-range missile systems that would be free of any Western-imposed limitations on their use and targets.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NBC News
39 minutes ago
- NBC News
Haiti's gangs have 'near-total control' of the capital as violence escalates, U.N. says
Gangs have grown in power since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021 and previously were estimated to control 85% of the capital. Haiti has not had a president since the assassination. A U.N.-backed mission led by Kenyan police arrived in Haiti last year to help quell gang violence, but the mission remains understaffed and underfunded, with only about 40% of the 2,500 personnel originally envisioned. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' proposal in February to have the U.N. provide drones, fuel, ground and air transport and other non-lethal support to the Kenya-led mission has languished in the council. In response to the gangs, the UNODC's Waly said there has been a rapid growth in the number and activities of private security companies and vigilante self-defense groups, with some trying to protect their communities while others act illegally and collude with gangs. "Over the last three months," Jenca said, "these groups reportedly killed at least 100 men and one woman suspected of gang association or collaboration." He said the last three months have also seen an increase in sexual violence by gangs with the U.N. political mission in Haiti documenting 364 incidents of sexual violence involving 378 survivors just from March to April. A new report by U.N. experts covering the period from last October through February said the gangs have exploited political turmoil and the disorganized response to Haiti's security crisis, pointing to competing political ambitions and allegations of corruption within Haiti's transitional governing bodies that have stymied action. "While the expansion of territorial control brings gangs additional sources of revenue and bargaining power," the experts said, "these attacks are also backed by individuals trying to destabilize the political transition for their own political goals." One major result is that very little progress has been made toward restoring public security or implementing the roadmap for organizing national elections by February 2026, the experts monitoring an arms embargo on Haiti and sanctions against key gang leaders said in the report to the Security Council. With a weak national police force facing acute tensions in its leadership, an army that needs rebuilding, and the limited ability of the multinational force, the experts warned that the gangs will continue "to have the upper hand unless stronger international support is provided." As for vigilante groups, the experts said, they "often include local police officers, some of whom actively participate in human rights violations." The Haitian National Police have also carried out "a worrying number of extrajudicial killings … with suspected gang members often summarily executed," the experts said, pointing to 281 summary executions by specialized police units in 2024 including 22 women and 8 children. Despite the U.N. arms embargo on Haiti, gangs continue to obtain more powerful weapons not only from regional civilian markets but from police stockpiles in Haiti and the neighboring Dominican Republic, the experts said.
South Wales Guardian
41 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Support for Ukraine's EU membership quest as Zelensky meets key European backers
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky joined Ms Frederiksen and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in the western city of Aarhus, where Denmark is marking the start of its eighth EU presidency since joining in 1973. It comes after US President Donald Trump's administration decided to halt some arms shipments promised to help Kyiv fight off Russia's invasion. Russia's renewed push to capture more territory has put Ukraine's defences under severe strain, with the war now in its fourth year. Russian missiles and drones are battering Ukrainian cities, while US-led efforts to find a peace settlement have stalled. 'Ukraine belongs in the EU. It is in the interest of both Denmark and Europe. Therefore, the Danish presidency will do everything we can to help Ukraine on its path towards EU membership,' Ms Frederiksen said in a statement. Ukraine's EU membership path is being blocked by Hungary. Prime Minister Viktor Orban insists that the country should remain a buffer zone between Russia and Nato countries. Increased military support, co-operation with the Ukrainian defence industry and new sanctions against Russia were also due to be discussed between EU officials and Mr Zelensky. 'We must partly strengthen Ukraine, partly weaken Russia. The first thing we do is increase military support. Ukraine is crucial for Europe's security,' Ms Frederiksen said. 'The second thing we do is sanctions. We must increase the pressure on Russia.' Her government has invested in Ukraine's defence industry – which can produce arms and ammunition more quickly and cheaply than elsewhere in Europe – and has invited Ukrainian companies to set up shop on safer ground in Denmark. Mr Zelensky is also scheduled to have an audience with King Frederik X of Denmark.
Rhyl Journal
an hour ago
- Rhyl Journal
Support for Ukraine's EU membership quest as Zelensky meets key European backers
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky joined Ms Frederiksen and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in the western city of Aarhus, where Denmark is marking the start of its eighth EU presidency since joining in 1973. It comes after US President Donald Trump's administration decided to halt some arms shipments promised to help Kyiv fight off Russia's invasion. Russia's renewed push to capture more territory has put Ukraine's defences under severe strain, with the war now in its fourth year. Russian missiles and drones are battering Ukrainian cities, while US-led efforts to find a peace settlement have stalled. 'Ukraine belongs in the EU. It is in the interest of both Denmark and Europe. Therefore, the Danish presidency will do everything we can to help Ukraine on its path towards EU membership,' Ms Frederiksen said in a statement. Ukraine's EU membership path is being blocked by Hungary. Prime Minister Viktor Orban insists that the country should remain a buffer zone between Russia and Nato countries. Increased military support, co-operation with the Ukrainian defence industry and new sanctions against Russia were also due to be discussed between EU officials and Mr Zelensky. 'We must partly strengthen Ukraine, partly weaken Russia. The first thing we do is increase military support. Ukraine is crucial for Europe's security,' Ms Frederiksen said. 'The second thing we do is sanctions. We must increase the pressure on Russia.' Her government has invested in Ukraine's defence industry – which can produce arms and ammunition more quickly and cheaply than elsewhere in Europe – and has invited Ukrainian companies to set up shop on safer ground in Denmark. Mr Zelensky is also scheduled to have an audience with King Frederik X of Denmark.
