Merz Pledges €1.3 Billion Package on Surprise Kyiv Visit as Russia Strikes the Capital

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made an unannounced visit to Kyiv on Sunday, arriving by special train to a capital sounding with air-raid sirens and explosions, and pledging a new aid package worth €1.35 billion for Ukraine, according to Reuters.

Merz announced the release of €1 billion in military assistance alongside €350 million for repairs to Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, German government officials said. He travelled with Economy Minister Katherina Reiche and an economic delegation that included executives from Siemens Energy, Hensoldt, Diehl Defence and Quantum Systems, with a central aim of finalising a joint German-Ukrainian production deal for drones.

“I travelled to Kyiv today because Ukraine needs all our support in the coming weeks,” Merz said, adding that if Russia were not stopped, its war machine would sooner or later turn against Europe. Speaking beside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, he declared that Germany would not be intimidated.

The visit unfolded under fire. Russian strikes hit Kyiv’s Northern Bridge over the Dnipro River during the morning, Kyiv’s mayor confirmed, and four air-raid alerts sounded across the capital. The two leaders visited the damaged building of Ukraine’s Academy of Sciences, where a drone strike earlier had killed at least two people.

Officials said company executives travelling with Merz signed 16 agreements worth roughly €6.5 billion, including a deal with Diehl Defence for IRIS-T air-defence missiles, radar equipment from Hensoldt and jet-drone interceptors from Quantum Systems. Merz also pressed Kyiv for progress on EU-backed anti-corruption reforms.

Sources

• Reuters: Germany’s Merz arrives in Kyiv to finalise drone deal, release aid
• Merz unveils new military and energy aid for Ukraine during visit