Raw materials and energy central to new German-Ukrainian strategic partnership

Germany and Ukraine have agreed on a new strategic partnership, with the exploration of Ukraine’s critical mineral reserves and the strengthening of the war-torn country’s energy system key aspects of the agreement between Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and German chancellor Friedrich Merz. 

The talks on 14 April focussed on how the EU’s biggest economy can provide military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine in its efforts to repel Russia’s invasion, which has caused immense damage to the eastern European country’s economy and energy infrastructure over the past four years. 

“We support a decentralised, sustainable, efficient and resilient Ukrainian energy system and will further integrate environmental and climate considerations into the recovery process,” the German government said in a declaration following the leaders’ meeting in Berlin.

On the sidelines of the Berlin summit, economy minister Katherina Reiche and Ukraine’s energy minister Oleksii Sobolev signed a Memorandum of Understanding between their countries’ raw materials agencies. The agreement outlines how Germany can participate in exploring and developing Ukraine’s critical mineral resources and simultaneously support the country’s energy supply security. 

“With the measures agreed upon on with my Ukrainian colleague today, we will support the Ukrainian energy system’s resilience,” said Reiche. She added that Germany aims to increase its investments in and exports to Ukraine and help Ukrainian companies gain better access to the German market. 

In the declaration, the German government said it would focus on supporting a green recovery in Ukraine that accounts for environmental and biodiversity protection. The countries also agreed on closer cooperation on biomethane and hydrogen, including plans for a hydrogen conference in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv in autumn 2026.