President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had arrived in Munich, Germany, for high-level meetings focused on Ukraine’s security and defense cooperation with European partners.
In a post published on Friday, Feb. 13, Zelensky said the visit would include discussions on launching the first joint Ukrainian-German enterprise for drone production, as well as bilateral and multilateral talks with partners.
He stressed the need to expand joint defense manufacturing, strengthen coordination and reinforce Europe’s collective security architecture, adding that the ultimate goal remains ending the war with reliable security guarantees for Ukraine and Europe.
Munich Security Conference shifts focus to defense
Zelensky’s visit comes as European and global leaders gather for the Munich Security Conference, which runs from Friday through Sunday and is expected to center on support for Ukraine, air defense, and Europe’s long-term security posture.
Earlier in the week, EU defense ministers met in Brussels to discuss continued military assistance to Kyiv, including additional air defense systems such as Patriot and NASAMS batteries. The talks also addressed cooperation on defense innovation, including drone production and emerging military technologies.
On Thursday, EU leaders held an informal summit in Belgium focused on economic competitiveness and reducing strategic vulnerabilities, before attention shifted to Munich, where debates are expected to concentrate on transatlantic security ties and Europe’s ability to deter further Russian escalation.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he expects to meet Zelensky on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, stressing the urgency of ending Russia’s war against Ukraine.