Star Metro - Zelensky in Germany for military talks amid drone boom

Zelensky was to hold talks with Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin, expected to focus in part on cooperation in drone production.

The consultations come as US-initiated peace talks between Russia and Ukraine have stalled, with Kyiv baulking at the idea of ceding territory to Moscow.

US President Donald Trump has also voiced anger at European NATO allies for failing to join the US-Israeli war against Iran or patrol the Strait of Hormuz.

Defence ministers allied to Kyiv and NATO chief Mark Rutte were to meet on Wednesday in Berlin as part of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group.

Germany has become Ukraine's biggest backer in the war with Russia, now in its fifth year, as the United States has reduced its support.

The Ukrainian army now has strong battlefield experience in military drones, now essential weapons due to their relatively low cost and increasing effectiveness and range.

The Middle East war has provided Kyiv with a chance to showcase its expertise, with Zelensky dispatching anti-drone specialists and visiting countries targeted by attacks from Iran, a Russian ally.

Berlin is keen to capitalise on this expertise, as Merz has allocated hundreds of billions of euros to rebuild the German army to deter a hostile Russia.

Zelensky in February visited a drone production site in Munich established by a German and Ukrainian joint venture to produce equipment for Ukraine's military.

Germany's Quantum Systems and Ukraine's Frontline Robotics announced the joint venture, Quantum Frontline Industries (QFI), in December.

Quantum Systems on Tuesday said it would announce two new joint ventures with Ukrainian manufacturers during the Berlin talks.

- 'Unity Hub' -

"Our existing joint venture QFI demonstrates that production capacity in Germany can be established within weeks, with operational systems delivered to Ukraine," said Matthias Lehna, managing director of the venture.

"We are convinced that this cooperation will form the core of Europe's future defence capabilities," he said.

The Zelensky-Merz meeting comes as hopes are rising that the European Union can soon provide Ukraine with a 90  billion euro ($105 billion) loan agreed in December.

The loan had been blocked by Hungary's nationalist prime minister Viktor Orban, but his election defeat last weekend to conservative Peter Magyar means European leaders are now hoping to soon release the funds.

German government spokesman Stefan Kornelius on Monday said he hoped the aid would be made available to Ukraine "very quickly".

As the Ukraine war grinds on, Germany has given refuge to hundreds of thousands of refugees.

To kick off Tuesday's talks, Ukraine's Social Minister Denys Uliutin met German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt at a culture and citizens' advice centre called a "Unity Hub".

The hub "will serve as a central point of contact for Ukrainians who have fled to Germany as a result of Russia's war of aggression", the interior ministry said in a statement.

The centre will provide "advice on job hunting and integration in Germany" but will also aim to "encourage a willingness to return" to Ukraine, the ministry said.

A.Desjardins--SMC