Zelenskyy's Berlin and Munich Agenda: Power Grid Recovery and Joint Arms Production

Strategic Talks in Berlin

According to Главком: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy participated in a high-level strategic meeting in the Berlin format. The discussions, held on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, focused on rebuilding Ukraine's energy infrastructure and establishing joint weapons production. Zelenskyy held talks with German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz and also met with Reza Pahlavi, the exiled Crown Prince of Iran.

Key Discussion Points

The primary topics addressed in Berlin were:

• Restoring Ukraine's power grid following attacks by the Russian Federation;
• Expanding collaborative arms manufacturing programs under the PURL and SAFE initiatives.

Zelenskyy noted that the main focus was on the energy situation and infrastructure recovery. He emphasized that Ukraine will compile and send its partners a list of needs for supporting both energy infrastructure and the military sector, counting on their assistance. Discussions also covered security guarantees for Ukraine and Europe as a whole, alongside the importance of diplomatic efforts to sustain support for Ukraine. These meetings are part of Ukraine's ongoing effort to secure long-term commitments from its allies.

In the meeting with Chancellor Merz, a decision was made to launch the first joint production line for Ukrainian drones on German soil. During the talks, the Armed Forces of Ukraine handed over the first strike drone manufactured under this partnership. The leaders agreed to scale up defense projects and continue financial support through the PURL program.

On the margins of the Munich conference, Zelenskyy also held a meeting with Reza Pahlavi. Key topics there included the Iranian people's struggle for democracy, strengthening sanctions against Tehran, and the threat posed by the Iranian regime's military cooperation with Russia.

'Ukrainians, together with Europeans, must be confident in their future and that Russian aggression will not be repeated.' - Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to partners for their support, stating that common positions were agreed upon and further collaborative steps were coordinated.

This series of meetings is significant for Ukraine, as discussions on energy security and defense in the context of the war with Russia underscore the country's drive to strengthen its international standing. The joint drone production with Germany could mark a crucial step in developing Ukraine's defense capabilities and demonstrates active support from Western partners. Simultaneously, diplomatic outreach regarding Iran indicates Ukraine's broader approach to building international alliances to counter aggression and regional security threats.