Rheinmetall CEO says Russia shows no willingness to end war in Ukraine
Photo: Armin Papperger (GettyImages)
Armin Papperger, CEO of defense contractor Rheinmetall AG, said that Russia shows no signs of ending the war against Ukraine, so peace is not expected anytime soon.
According to him, given the current situation, he does not predict the end of the war in 2026.
"We are currently producing more ammunition than we have contracts for," says Papperger.
At the same time, Rheinmetall could increase supplies of anti-aircraft systems, ammunition, and even tanks, but this would require additional funding.
The head of the company says that Rheinmetall plans to increase its workforce to approximately 70,000 people in the coming years. The group's order book is expected to reach around €140 billion by the end of the year.
Rheinmetall plant in Ukraine
Rheinmetall is a German defense company specializing in the production of armored vehicles, artillery systems, ammunition, air defense systems, and military electronics and drones. The company supplies Ukraine with infantry fighting vehicles, tanks, self-propelled artillery systems, ammunition, and air defense systems.
Rheinmetall previously announced plans to establish a joint venture in Ukraine for the production of shells, with a memorandum to that effect signed during the Munich Security Conference.
In August 2025, the company intended to double the capacity of the Ukrainian plant producing 155 mm artillery ammunition. Subsequently, in September 2025, then-Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal announced that Rheinmetall also plans to build a new shell production plant in a safe region of Ukraine, and that the procedures for launching joint production had already been finalized.
