Zelensky, Merz unveil defense cooperation; Ukraine backs US trilateral talks plan
In short
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz held a joint press conference in Kyiv on October 4, announcing defense cooperation including joint production of 2,000 “Bars” long-range interceptor drones. Zelensky said Ukraine supports a US proposal for trilateral technical talks with Russia before the end of October, and is open to holding them in the UAE or another country suggested by Washington. Jiemian reported that Germany will also launch a new comprehensive support package for Ukraine worth more than 1.35 billion euros.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz held a joint press conference in Kyiv on October 4, announcing several defense cooperation results and describing progress toward talks between Ukraine, the United States and Russia, according to three Chinese business outlets. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Zelensky said Ukraine and Germany will jointly produce 2,000 “Bars” long-range interceptor drones. He said Ukraine is accelerating construction of its own air-defense system, that the “Turret” defense program has entered systematic implementation and that dozens of defense turrets will be deployed. Several small Ukrainian missiles are under development, with test acceptance expected in the second half of this month, he said. Jiemian reported, citing CCTV News, that Germany will also launch a new comprehensive support package for Ukraine worth more than 1.35 billion euros; the other two documents do not mention the package. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
On the talks, Zelensky said the US is currently in separate communication with Ukraine and Russia and has proposed holding trilateral technical talks before the end of October. Ukraine has clearly expressed support and is open and positive about holding the talks in the UAE or another country proposed by the US, he said. At this stage the US will formally present the proposal to Russia, and Ukraine will await Russia’s response, according to the reports. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The reports came from CLS and Yicai, both published at 23:29 local time on October 4, and from Jiemian, published at 07:22 on October 5. Yicai and Jiemian attribute their material to CCTV News. The documents do not state whether Russia has responded to the proposal, nor do they give a confirmed date or venue for the talks. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The announcement pairs new German-funded production and air-defense construction with a US-brokered channel that, if Russia agrees, would be the first trilateral technical format described in the documents. Ukraine’s air-defense build-out and missile testing timeline indicate the country is preparing for continued fighting while talks are explored. The documents give no indication of Russia’s position, so whether the talks take place remains unknown.
Key facts
- Zelensky and Merz held a joint press conference in Kyiv on October 4 to announce defense cooperation results and progress on trilateral talks. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Ukraine and Germany will jointly produce 2,000 “Bars” long-range interceptor drones, according to Zelensky. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Ukraine’s “Turret” defense program has entered systematic implementation and dozens of defense turrets are to be deployed. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Several small Ukrainian missiles are under development, with test acceptance expected in the second half of this month. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Zelensky said the US is in separate communication with Ukraine and Russia and has proposed trilateral technical talks before the end of October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Ukraine has expressed support and is open and positive about holding the talks in the UAE or another country proposed by the US. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Germany will launch a new comprehensive support package for Ukraine totaling more than 1.35 billion euros, Jiemian reported, citing CCTV News. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Zelensky and Merz held a joint press conference in Kyiv on October 4 and announced defense cooperation results. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Ukraine and Germany will jointly produce 2,000 “Bars” long-range interceptor drones. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Ukraine’s “Turret” defense program has entered systematic implementation, with dozens of turrets to be deployed. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Several small missiles are in development and test acceptance is expected in the second half of October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The US is communicating separately with Ukraine and Russia and proposed trilateral technical talks before the end of October; Ukraine supports the proposal. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Russia will agree to the proposed trilateral technical talks. All three documents say only that the US will formally present the proposal to Russia and that Ukraine will await Russia’s response; no Russian response is reported.
- The exact date and venue of the proposed talks. The documents give only “before the end of October” and say the venue could be the UAE or another country proposed by the US, without naming a final location.
- The contents and timing of Germany’s new support package for Ukraine, reported at more than 1.35 billion euros. The figure appears in only one document, Jiemian, citing CCTV News; the other two documents do not mention it or its components.
- Details of the “Turret” program and the small missiles under development. The documents describe them only in general terms and give no numbers for the missiles or specifications for the turrets.