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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv on Oct. 4 to demonstrate support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The visit came as Russian attacks intensified. Air raid sirens and explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital.
German government officials said Merz would announce a package that includes 1 billion euros ($1.13 billion) in military aid and 350 million euros ($394.13 million) for repairs in the energy sector. An agreement on the joint production of various types of drones is also expected to be finalized.
Merz delivers message of support to Ukraine
“I came to Kyiv today because Ukraine will need all our support in the coming weeks,” Merz said. Russian forces are bombing cities, residential buildings and heating facilities, he said. “If Russia is not stopped, sooner or later its war machine will turn against us,” the chancellor said.
Merz said he would tell Zelenskyy, “You can count on our help.” During the visit, the two leaders went to the site of the Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences’ administrative building, which was damaged in Russian drone attacks. They also paid tribute at Independence Square in Kyiv to Ukrainian defenders who had been killed.
Air raid alerts sounded four times in Kyiv on Sunday morning. Explosions and the sounds of air defense systems were heard in different parts of the city. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on his Telegram channel that one of the Russian strikes damaged the roadway of the Northern Bridge over the Dnipro River. The hot water supply system in the area was also damaged, he said.
Reforms and defense industry on meeting agenda
Merz is accompanied on the visit by German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche and representatives of Siemens Energy, Hensoldt, Diehl Defence, Quantum Systems and other companies. The German chancellor is expected to discuss with the Ukrainian government progress on reforms sought by European Union partners, including anti-corruption measures.
After a phone call with Merz on Sept. 30, Zelenskyy said an agreement with Germany on producing drones, missiles and related software would be finalized soon. One of the agreement’s main areas is expected to be the rapid production of systems to counter jet-powered drones. German defense technology company Quantum has successfully tested drones of this type.
In April, Quantum and Ukrainian company WIY Drones announced that they had established a joint venture, Quantum WIY Industries. The venture is expected to produce the Strila interceptor drone and air defense technologies. The agreement also covers the joint development and production of weapons with a range of more than 1,000 kilometers that Ukraine could use to strike deep inside Russian territory.
Ukraine and Russia exchange strikes
On Thursday, Merz said an increase in Russia’s hybrid attacks against European countries would not intimidate Germany. Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that Moscow would continue systematically striking targets in Ukraine in response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory in recent months. The ministry warned foreign nationals and diplomats not to remain in Ukraine or travel there.
Zelenskyy told Reuters on Saturday that Ukraine’s armed forces would step up strikes on oil refineries in Russia in response to what he called Moscow’s “new doctrine” of increasing attacks on civilian infrastructure. The aim of the attacks, he said, was to force residents of Kyiv and other cities to flee.
