Merz Visits Kyiv Under Air Raid Sirens, Unveils €1 Billion Military Aid PackageWorld

The visit unfolded under extraordinary circumstances. Four air raid alerts sounded across Kyiv on Sunday morning, and a Russian strike hit the Northern Bridge over the Dnipro River, damaging its roadway and a hot-water supply system, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko. It was the second bridge in the capital to be hit over the weekend, part of a Russian campaign targeting crossings between the city’s two banks.

<h2>Aid, energy repairs and drones</h2> German officials said Merz would announce the release of €1 billion in military aid alongside €350 million for repairs to Ukraine&#8217;s battered energy sector, which Russia has been systematically targeting ahead of winter. Ukraine and Germany are also expected to finalise a deal to jointly produce drones and other weapons with ranges exceeding 600 miles, aimed at striking deeper into Russian territory.

Merz and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met at the National Academy of Sciences, which was struck by a Russian drone on September 28 in an attack that killed two people. Surveying the damage, Merz called the strikes on civilians barbaric and said they must stop.

Zelenskyy told Merz that Kyiv&#8217;s citizens were enduring &#8220;terrible nights and days&#8221; under relentless bombardment, and said Washington had proposed fresh talks involving both Ukraine and Russia before the end of the month.

The chancellor is also expected to press Kyiv on reforms sought by EU partners, including the fight against corruption. Germany has been among Ukraine&#8217;s staunchest backers: the two countries signed a military pact worth more than $4 billion in April, and German defence-tech firm Quantum has already formed a joint venture with Ukrainian manufacturer WIY Drones to build interceptor drones.

Merz&#8217;s visit came a day after Moscow warned foreign diplomats and nationals to leave the Ukrainian capital, and followed Zelenskyy&#8217;s announcement that Ukraine would double down on strikes against Russian oil refineries in response to Russia&#8217;s intensified aerial campaign.