German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and UK Defence Secretary John Healey urged rapid de‑escalation around Iran, the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz at a Ukraine defense meeting in Berlin on Wednesday, warning that the Middle East war is drawing attention and resources away from Ukraine and ultimately benefiting Russia’s invasion.
Both ministers announced fresh military assistance for Kyiv. Germany committed to supplying hundreds of Patriot guided missiles steadily over the next four years, additional IRIS‑T launchers and funding for deep‑strike drones to be produced in Ukraine. The UK pledged further drone deliveries and support for projects inside Ukraine financed by international partners. Ukraine’s Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and NATO chief Mark Rutte also attended the talks.
Pistorius said “the eyes of the world are on the Strait of Hormuz and the events in the Middle East these days,” calling for a quick de‑escalation and an end to the Strait’s blockade. He warned a spike in oil prices was “pouring money into Putin’s war coffers,” and said US‑backed peace talks with Russia were suspended and had never been taken seriously by Moscow. As evidence of Russian intent, he pointed to the short‑lived Orthodox Easter ceasefire that Fedorov said was “violated about 2,000 times” and ended immediately after the holiday.
Stressing unity and the importance of air defence against wide‑ranging drone attacks, Pistorius described relations with Ukraine as a “reliable strategic partnership based on mutual trust.” He urged the EU to approve a two‑year, interest‑free €90 billion loan package—saying he expected Hungary’s recent election to lift the blockade delaying the package—and said the funds would help Ukraine sustainably procure military equipment and rebuild infrastructure damaged by Russia. He emphasized EU money was intended to supplement, not replace, bilateral support.
Healey warned that the fallout from the Iran conflict was being “felt across the world” while Putin continued his assault on Ukraine. He praised Kyiv’s role in helping Gulf states defend against drone attacks, citing Ukraine’s experience countering Russian kamikaze drones based on Iran’s Shahed models. Quoting Fedorov, Healey said Russia had launched about 1,000 such drones in the previous 24 hours, and reported that Russian casualties rose by roughly a third to more than 35,000 in March, with drones accounting for the vast majority of those losses. He added that drones have shaped this war and will be decisive to its outcome, and confirmed the UK plans to deliver some 120,000 drones in its latest assistance package.
NATO chief Mark Rutte welcomed the new pledges, praised Ukraine for helping Gulf states fend off “indiscriminate attacks” from Iran, and urged that military equipment continue to flow into Ukraine.
Edited by Srinivas Mazumdaru