This is reported by Kyiv24
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, held a phone conversation with the Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, during which he thanked Germany for its support in countering Russia’s strikes on the country’s energy infrastructure. The meeting took place against the backdrop of intensified shelling of Ukraine’s energy facilities by the Russian Federation.
“Friedrich demonstrates true leadership, and I greatly appreciate our coordination. Europe is becoming stronger thanks to our joint steps and Germany’s support for our defense, which is among the largest in many aspects in Europe. It is the German Patriot and IRIS-T systems that protect a significant part of our energy sector and our cities. There is also an important package of energy support already in place,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram.
Strengthening Cooperation and Joint Actions
Zelensky noted that during the discussion with Merz, the parties focused on further cooperation between Ukraine and Germany, as well as agreed to conduct joint work with European partners next week. This could become another step in strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities and deepening the strategic partnership with Germany.
Military Assistance and New Agreements
Earlier, the German Ambassador to Ukraine, Heiko Thomas, reported that Berlin had already transferred nine IRIS-T air defense systems to Kyiv, and new systems are expected to arrive soon. Additionally, by the end of 2025, Ukraine received two more Patriot systems, significantly enhancing the capabilities to protect the country’s airspace.
In December of last year, the then Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, noted the strengthening of defense cooperation with German partners. A number of important agreements worth over 1.2 billion euros were signed, which provide for long-term supply of spare parts for the Patriot systems. This will allow for more efficient repairs, modernization, and restoration of existing systems, which is critically important for protecting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and cities.