Germany news: Defense minister Pistorius arrives in Kyiv

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AdvertisementSkip next section What you need to know

What you need to know

• German Defense Minister Pistorius is in Kyiv
• The visit aims to discuss defense cooperation, including in drones production
• 5 pro-Palestinian activists face trial over attacking Israeli defense company site

Below are the latest developments from and about Germany on Monday, May 11, 2026.  

Skip next section Federal Network Agency doesn't rule out gas price increase05/11/2026May 11, 2026

Federal Network Agency doesn't rule out gas price increase

Germany's Federal Network Agency has advised customers to use gas "sparingly" amid the energy crisis instigated by the Iran war, saying that slight price increases could not be ruled out.

Klaus Müller, head of the Federal Network Agency, told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland on Monday that potential price increases would not be comparable to the jump that followed Russia's 2022 fullscale invasion of Ukraine.

"Fortunately, the current situation is not comparable to that of five years ago," said Müller. He also noted that contrary to gas, electricity prices were in decline due to the significant proportion of low-cost renewable energy.

Germany's chemical industry hit by high energy prices

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https://p.dw.com/p/5DZNgSkip next section Switzerland is Germans' top European migration destination, statistics agency05/11/2026May 11, 2026

Switzerland is Germans' top European migration destination, statistics agency

Switzerland is German migrants' favorite destination in Europe, according to the Federal Statistical Agency in Wiesbaden.

In early 2025, some 330,000 Germans were living in the neighboring country. The number of German nationals in Switzerland increased by some 10.7% in the past 10 years.

A close favorite is Austria, another neighbor where the German language is the official one (in Switzerland, it is one of four official languages.) In early 2025, some 240,000 Germans were living there, making them the largest foreign community in the country.

The statistics agency explained the numbers away by pointing to both countries' geographical proximity to Germany as well as the absence of the "language barrier."

Meanwhile further south was more attractive to older Germans, who were flocking to Spain, making up some 132,000 in total.

https://p.dw.com/p/5DZCnSkip next section Federal Council vetos relief bonus05/11/2026May 11, 2026

Federal Council vetos relief bonus

The German Federal Council, or Bundesrat, has vetoed a proposal to introduce a relief bonus to employees, with Bavaria's Premier Markus Söder saying the idea was "off the table."

The German government had planned to allow employers to give their employees voluntary, tax-free payments of up to €1,000 (roughly $1,176) until June 30, 2027. Employers would be allowed to claim these payments as business expenses for tax purposes.

But at the Federal Council, the majority of German states rejected the idea of contributing to the relief payment.

Of Germany's 16 states, only the Social-Democrat-run states of Lower Saxony, Hamburg, Bremen and Saarland were in favor of the idea.

The opposing states were particularly critical of the cost of the bonus and how it would be distributed.

States are expected to advocate for income tax reform instead.

https://p.dw.com/p/5DZ92Skip next section EU's Kallas rejects German former chancellor Schröder as Ukraine mediator05/11/2026May 11, 2026

EU's Kallas rejects German former chancellor Schröder as Ukraine mediator

Kaja Kallas, the European Union's foreign policy chief, on Monday rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal to get former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder to mediate an end to the war in Ukraine.

"Gerhard Schröder has been a high-level lobbyist for Russian state-owned companies. So it's clear why Putin wants him to be the person so that actually, you know, he would be sitting on both sides of the table," Kallas said of the former German leader, who has maintained close relations with Moscow and is a personal friend of Putin. 

Kallas also rejected the premise of allowing Moscow the right to appoint a negotiator, saying that "would not be very wise."

Schröder's office on Sunday refused to comment on Putin's proposal.

Why Putin turned to ex‑German chancellor as a peace broker

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https://p.dw.com/p/5DYyTSkip next section 5 pro-Palestinian activists face trial over Israeli defense company attack05/11/2026May 11, 2026

5 pro-Palestinian activists face trial over Israeli defense company attack

Five pro-Palestinian activists are due back in court in Germany's western city of Stuttgart on Monday, where they are facing trial over an alleged attack on an Israeli defense company's site in the city of Ulm.

The five defendants, three women and two men between 25 and 40 of Irish, British, Spanish and German nationalities, are accused of breaking into the company's premises at night and destroying valuable company inventory.

The company in question is Elbit Systems, a provider of military equipment for the Israeli military. They are accused of attacking the company in September last year, as an act of protest against Germany's support to Israel amid the latter's war on Gaza.

German Chancellor Merz reaffirms support for Israel

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They became known as the Ulm 5 and face charges of criminal damage and trespassing, as well as membership of a criminal organization, over their ties to Palestine Action Germany.

The trial started in late April with dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters gathering outside court and applauding the defendants as they were brought into the courtroom.

https://p.dw.com/p/5DYxgSkip next section Germany's Pistorius arrives in Kyiv05/11/2026May 11, 2026

Germany's Pistorius arrives in Kyiv

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius on Monday arrived in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv for an unannounced visit aimed to discuss defense cooperation in the field of weapons systems.

Speaking to the German DPA news agency in Kyiv, Pistorius said the main goal of his trip was to strengthen both countries' strategic partnership, including building a new weapons system together.

"Germany and Ukraine are strategic partners, both will profit from this cooperation," he said. "The focus is on the joint development of state-of-the-art unmanned systems across all ranges, particularly in the area of deep strike. This is how we strengthen the security of our countries."

The term "deep strike" refers to the ability to destroy key targets deep within an enemy's territory, an area Ukraine has been attempting to expand on in its war with Russia recently.

NATO's European partners still have so-called capability gaps in the field of long-range weapons, something Pistorius believes needs to be rectified as soon as possible.

Pistorius' visit on Monday comes as a temporary ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine is due to expire. The weekend ceasefire was announced by US President Donald Trump on Friday and confirmed by both parties.

It coincided with Russia's military parades celebrating its victory in World War II, parades which President Vladimir Putin was adamant on not disturbing with potential Ukrainian strikes.

Russia marks Victory Day as the Ukraine war drags on

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https://p.dw.com/p/5DYvXSkip next section Welcome to our coverage05/11/2026May 11, 2026

Welcome to our coverage

Rana Taha | Elizabeth Schumacher Editor

Good morning from a gloomy, rainy Bonn day where spring has once again taken a back seat.

We are back from what was a sunny weekend to bring you all the latest news, videos and analyses on all things Germany, including the defense minister's surprise visit to Kyiv and a trial session of pro-Palestinian activists.

Stay tuned!

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