German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv on Sunday as air-raid sirens and explosions echoed across the Ukrainian capital, underscoring the risks of visiting amid intensified Russian attacks. The trip aims to reaffirm Germany’s support for Ukraine and to finalize a package of military and economic assistance, German officials said.
Merz announced a significant aid package: 1 billion euros in military support and 350 million euros earmarked for repairs to Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Officials also said a deal to jointly produce several types of drones would be concluded during his visit. The chancellor traveled with Economy Minister Katherina Reiche and a delegation of executives from major German firms, including Siemens Energy, Hensoldt, Diehl Defense and Quantum Systems, signaling a push for deeper industrial cooperation.
“I traveled to Kyiv today because Ukraine needs all our support in the coming weeks,” Merz said, warning that the intensifying Russian campaign of strikes on towns, residential buildings and heating plants must be stopped before it threatens other countries. “If Russia is not stopped, sooner or later its war machine will turn against us,” he added, telling President Volodymyr Zelensky, “You can continue to count on our help.”
Kyiv experienced four air-raid alerts on Sunday morning, with explosions and air defenses audible across the city. One strike damaged the Northern Bridge spanning the Dnipro River, smashing roadway sections and disrupting a local hot water supply, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported on Telegram. Attacks on bridges have increased in recent days as Russian forces seek to sever connections between the city’s banks and choke logistical routes to eastern Ukraine.
A central element of the Germany-Ukraine discussions is ramped-up weapons cooperation, particularly the joint production of drones and longer-range munitions. Ukraine and Germany are expected to finalize arrangements to manufacture interceptors and anti-jet drones—capabilities seen as crucial since Russia has deployed high-speed jet attack drones repeatedly this year. Quantum Systems, together with Ukrainian partner WIY Drones, has already showcased an interceptor drone called Strila through their joint venture, Quantum WIY Industries, launched in April.
Beyond short-range and defensive systems, the planned agreement contemplates collaboration on weapons capable of striking targets more than 1,000 kilometers (about 600 miles) away, enabling Ukraine to hit deeper into Russian territory. Such capabilities are sensitive and politically charged, but Kyiv argues they are necessary to deter and disrupt continued Russian strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure and population centers.
Merz’s delegation also pressed Ukrainian officials on governance and reform benchmarks, reflecting European partners’ insistence that military and economic support be tied to progress on anti-corruption measures and institutional reforms. The talks underline a broader dynamic: Western aid is increasingly coupled with expectations that Kyiv accelerate reforms to cement Ukraine’s long-term alignment with Europe.
Moscow, for its part, has defended its intensified bombing campaign as retaliation for Ukrainian strikes inside Russia. The Russian Foreign Ministry warned foreign nationals and diplomatic staff against remaining in or traveling to Ukraine, saying Moscow would continue to “systematically” hit Ukrainian targets. In response, Zelensky told Reuters that Ukraine would increase attacks on Russian oil refineries, framing such strikes as countermeasures against Russia’s new doctrine of targeting civilian infrastructure to induce population flight from major cities.
The visit is symbolic as well as practical. German industry representatives accompanying Merz indicate Berlin’s willingness to deepen defense industrial ties with Kyiv—not just through aid, but via direct production partnerships that could speed delivery and adapt systems to battlefield needs. For Ukraine, such collaborations promise faster, more tailored access to critical technologies, from missile and drone systems to energy-sector equipment needed to repair and harden infrastructure under constant bombardment.
As air-raid sirens continued to wail over Kyiv, the joint focus on military aid, energy repairs and industrial cooperation highlighted the dual thrust of the trip: immediate battlefield support and longer-term strategic alignment. Merz emphasized solidarity with Ukraine at a moment when European capitals weigh how far to go in supporting Kyiv while managing the risks of escalation with Moscow. The outcomes of this visit—financial pledges, production agreements and progress reports on reforms—will influence not only Kyiv’s short-term resilience but also the broader trajectory of European support for Ukraine in the months ahead.
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