German Defense Minister Visits Kyiv as Russia Escalates Attacks

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius arrived in Kyiv on Thursday, June 12, as Russia ramps up its bombardment of Ukraine.

His ministry confirmed the visit to AFP. However, details of the visit have not been disclosed.

This marks Pistorius’s first visit to Ukraine since Chancellor Friedrich Merz assumed office. His previous trip to Kyiv was in January.

According to media reports, during his visit, Pistorius is expected to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“We will do everything to support Ukraine so that it can defend itself and be in a position where Russia is ready for serious negotiations,” he said ahead of the trip.

Pistorius’s trip comes just one day after Russian airstrikes on the northeastern city of Kharkiv killed at least four people and wounded 60 others. Thursday’s attack on Kharkiv injured 14 people, including four children.

Earlier this week, Chancellor Merz condemned Russia’s escalating attacks, calling them “terror against the civilian population.” He stressed that Russia’s recent strikes were “anything but a proportionate response to the very precise Ukrainian attacks on military airfields and infrastructure in the last week.”

Throughout Russia’s full-scale invasion, Germany has become one of Ukraine’s key partners, providing extensive military, financial, and humanitarian assistance.

Berlin has supplied Ukraine with advanced weapons, including IRIS-T air defense systems, Patriot missile systems, Leopard 2 tanks, armored vehicles, ammunition, and other military equipment.

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Merz to Gather European Leaders Ahead of NATO Summit

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is expected to convene leaders from Germany, France, the UK, Italy and Poland later this month to prepare a common approach ahead of the July NATO summit. The meeting aims to highlight Europe’s efforts to assume greater responsibility for its own defense amid growing tensions with US President Donald Trump over NATO, military spending and the recent conflict with Iran.

Germany also supports Ukraine economically and through humanitarian aid and is a strong advocate for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.

At the most recent Ramstein-format meeting, Germany approved a new €5 billion ($5.76 billion) military aid package. It includes funding for the production of long-range weapons in Ukraine, as well as additional air defense systems, weapons, and ammunition.