Zelenskyy addressing media after talks with German Chancellor Friedrich
Merz in Berlin on 14 April, 2026
After UK, Ukraine offers Germany Drones for Europe’s Security
Deepak Razdan
New Delhi, 14 April, 2026
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s talks with German Chancellor
Friedrich Merz in Berlin on Tuesday, offering Germany cooperation in the
manufacture of an advanced variety of military drones marked a significant
landmark in the evolution of the New World that humanity lives in today.
Zelenskyy had made a similar offer to the United Kingdom about a month
ago, while addressing the UK Parliament on 17 March, 2026. At both events,
Zelenskyy received a patient hearing and recognition that Ukraine had learnt
many lessons from its four-year war with Russia, and evolved a range of
advanced and cost-effective weapons to meet emerging challenges in wars.
Zelenskyy profusely thanked both countries for their generous support in
resources to fight the mighty military challenge from Russia. Although European
leaders recognized that security of Ukraine was security of Europe, he said,
Ukraine wanted to reciprocate and offer European countries weapon systems which
they must have during the current times.
The Ukraine-Germany Joint
Statement said on Tuesday Germany recognises
that Ukraine has made significant progress towards the inter-operability of its
armed forces and the alignment of its political institutions.
Germany
and Ukraine will strengthen cooperation in the air defence field and work for missile
manufacturing and development. “In particular, we will focus efforts on
accelerating the development of anti-ballistic missile air defence,” the two
countries said.
The
Governments of Germany and Ukraine have already signed or intend to sign arrangements
concerning Data Cooperation; Implementing the agreement concerning the joint
production of long-range strike drones Anubis and mid-range strike drones
Seth-X and Implementing the Arrangement regarding the provision of drones for
third countries, including in the Gulf.
Germany
acknowledged the long-term Ukrainian drone deal proposal and will swiftly
explore the possibility of signing it, the Joint Statement said.
The
Joint Statement showed that Germany had acknowledged Ukrainian expertise in
development of drones that could match threats from drones deployed by Russia
or Iran.
In
fact, Zelenskyy’s detailed address before British MPs on Ukraine’s weapon
development explained the growing desire of Germany and Europe to cooperate
with Ukraine on military affairs.
The Ukrainian leader told the British MPs that drones and AI would play
a significant role in future wars. He shared with them how his country
developed the new weapons and drones and offered to share the technology and
supply the products without any hesitation.
Zelenskyy spoke confidently “we are ready to offer similar deals to all our reliable partners – from
practical cooperation on drones to future defense alliances.”
“And I don’t think anyone
would want to leave Ukraine’s war-proven strength and capability outside their
security. If someone does, it wouldn't be wise. The United Kingdom sees these
opportunities clearly -- our agreements are always solid, and I’m glad that
today we have signed a declaration with the Prime Minister,” he said.
Right now, there are 201
Ukrainians in the Middle East and the Gulf region, he said, explaining how
Ukraine’s technology was getting accepted in the world. Another 34 are ready to
deploy, he said. These are military experts, experts who know how to help, how
to defend against “shahed” drones, he said.
“Our teams are already in
the Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and on the way to Kuwait. We are working
with several other countries – agreements are already in place. We do not want
this terror of the Iranian regime against its neighbours to succeed,” he said.
Armies in the Middle East
and the Gulf region have a good protection against missiles, including Iranian ballistic
ones. Patriot and THAAD systems work well – though they are expensive, he said.
But, Zelenskyy explained,
terrorist regimes always look for ways to break through defenses and make
killing cheaper. Iran began producing “shahed” drones years ago – attack drones
that are now, after upgrades, even more dangerous than missiles, he said.
“In Ukraine, we had to
learn how to defend against them. About three years ago, Russia received
“shaheds” from the Iranian regime. These are drones designed for the low-cost
destruction of the expensive critical infrastructure targets,” he said.
Iran taught Russia how to
launch them and gave it the technology to produce them. Russia then upgraded
them. And now there is clear evidence that Iranian “shaheds” used in the region
contain Russian components, the Ukraine leader said.
Zelenskyy said no country could remain indifferent to such developments.
He did not confuse words in conveying what he did really. “And we do not believe we have the right to be indifferent
– even if we are separated from human suffering or shared danger by an ocean,
however big and beautiful, or by anything else.”
“Ballistic missiles can
strike at thousands of kilometers. Drones can do the same. But if evil wins,
the evolution of war will cross any distance on earth – no ocean will help, no
desert, no mountains. That is why it is worth helping protect life,” Zelenskyy
spoke as the leader of the latest war technology.
The Ukraine leader made more points. One
Iranian “shahed,” he said, costs about 50,000 dollars. To shoot it down,
partners often use missiles – some costing up to 4 million dollars – or combat
aircraft, which is also very expensive.
Iranians knew that no air
defense in the world would be enough to stop such drones, such a number of
drones. “And we were the ones who changed that,” Zelenskyy spoke like a successful
war leader.
“In Ukraine, we stop one
such drone with two or three interceptors, small interceptors costing less than
10,000 dollars in total. So our approach is far more cost-effective than anything
our partners use today,” Zelenskyy said happily.
He said drones can
be now launched not only from land, but also from ships at sea. Ukraine did not
have a strong navy like Britain or some of its partners, he said.
“But we have pushed what
is left of Russia’s fleet into distant bays in the Black Sea, where their ships
hide from Ukrainian sea drones. This is a completely new security reality in
our sea. The Russian fleet – which was powerful – has no effective way to
counter our drones,” Zelenskyy said.
“We started with simple
kamikaze sea drones. Then we built drones with turrets that can shoot down
helicopters. Now we have drones that can shoot down Russian fighter jets from
the sea,” he said.
The Ukraine leader told
the British Parliamentarians that he possessed an iPad phone which had software
that let him control his country’s security in real time. He watched from his
office how his Army was responding to the Russian attacks.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressing UK Parliament on 17
March, 2026
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