Germany’s Pistorius attends top Warsaw talks ahead of Lithuania visit

Germany’s Boris Pistorius is among several EU defence ministers participating in the Warsaw Security Forum on Monday, amid weeks of high tensions on NATO’s eastern flank due to Russian incursions.

Alongside Pistorius, Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans and Estonia’s Hanno Pevkur were both due to take part in the talks, as well as European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius.

Pistorius is also set to discuss Ukraine’s future relationship with Europe in high-level talks in the Polish capital, which comes weeks after Russian drones were shot down over Poland.

He is not the only German official in Warsaw on Monday, with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also in the city for talks with his French and Polish counterparts. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha is also expected to join the consultations.

Pistorius is then due to travel on to Lithuania, where Germany is deploying a combat brigade to assist with the defence of NATO’s eastern flank.

The unit was formally activated in May and is set to comprise a force of around 4,800 soldiers and 200 civilian personnel, with full operating capability expected in 2027.

Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene is to formally hand over a military logistics centre to Pistorius in the town of Rukla.

As preparations for the German brigade continue, a German school is set to be formally opened in the capital Vilnius on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the German School is to be opened in the capital Vilnius.