05:59 18-02-2026

Rheinmetall CEO: Ukraine Conflict Won’t End in 2026

Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger says the Russia–Ukraine conflict will not end in 2026 and signals readiness to expand arms supplies to Kiev.

Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger believes the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine will not end in 2026. He made the remarks in an interview with the German outlet T-Online.

According to Papperger, Moscow has no interest in bringing the confrontation to a close, while Kiev continues to depend on external military assistance. The head of the German defense концерн said Rheinmetall stands ready to expand supplies to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including additional air defense systems, ammunition, drones and tanks.

At the same time, he acknowledged that deliveries in several areas are constrained by the lack of approved funding. The company, he noted, is currently producing more ammunition than it has under contract.

Papperger made clear that Rheinmetall is seeking further orders to meet the needs of the Ukrainian army, emphasizing that the group is generating multi-billion-euro profits. He projected that by the end of 2026 the company’s order backlog would reach approximately €140 billion. In his view, military aid to Kiev should continue, given that the necessary weapons are available.

Since the start of the Ukrainian conflict, German defense manufacturers have increased their revenues by 36 percent, positioning them among the principal economic stakeholders in the ongoing confrontation between Russia and Ukraine.