Armin Papperger, head of German defense company Rheinmetall, says his company is ready to support a possible international peacekeeping mission in Ukraine—if one is launched in the future.
Speaking to Deutsche Welle on March 12, Papperger made it clear that no final decision has been made about such a mission, but said Rheinmetall could deliver more than 2,000 pieces of equipment if needed.
He pointed to his company’s role in supplying Germany’s tank brigade that is being set up in Lithuania, which should be fully operational by 2027.
Rheinmetall provided a wide range of equipment for that effort, and Papperger said they could do the same for Ukraine. This would likely include tanks, armored vehicles, and other military support gear.
The announcement came as Papperger presented Rheinmetall’s performance for 2024, which he described as a record year. The company brought in €9.8 billion in revenue—its highest ever.
Much of this growth came from new contracts linked to the war in Ukraine.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022, Rheinmetall has received about €6 billion worth of orders connected to Ukraine.
“We’ve become a strong industrial partner for Ukraine,” Papperger said.
He added that Rheinmetall now talks weekly with Ukrainian officials to coordinate supply deliveries and other forms of support.
Tank Repair Center to Open in Ukraine
One of Rheinmetall’s most important upcoming projects is a tank and artillery repair center inside Ukraine. The facility will handle repairs on German-made military equipment, which has become a key part of Ukraine’s army.
This repair hub will help Ukraine fix damaged tanks and weapons faster, without needing to send them abroad for maintenance. It’s part of a larger effort to give Ukraine more control over its own defense needs while the war continues.
Right now, there is no official international peacekeeping force in Ukraine.
But recent diplomatic talks—especially the ones between Ukraine and the United States in Saudi Arabia—have led to some discussion about a possible future mission.
If such a peacekeeping effort is agreed upon, Rheinmetall says it will be ready to help with logistics and military gear. Papperger stressed that the company isn’t involved in political decisions, but wants to be prepared if asked to support the mission.
