Air-raid sirens sounded during the German chancellor’s visit to Kyiv, where he said Berlin would not be intimidated into ending its support.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced a new €1 billion military-aid package for Ukraine during a visit to Kyiv on October 4. The trip took place amid Russian drone attacks and repeated air-raid alerts. A further €350 million is earmarked for repairs to the energy sector. Merz called Germany Ukraine’s strongest backer and said support was necessary both for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and Europe’s security.
Merz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited a memorial to fallen service members and the National Academy of Sciences building, damaged in a Russian strike the previous week. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said a strike on Sunday damaged the road surface of the Northern Bridge across the Dnipro, injured two people and disrupted a hot-water supply system in the area.
Officials said German companies signed 16 agreements with Ukrainian counterparts worth about €6.5 billion. They included arrangements involving IRIS-T air-defence missiles, radar equipment and drone interceptors. Zelensky said the two countries were close to a broader defence agreement that he had previously said could include joint production of drones, missiles and software.
Merz accused Moscow of trying to undermine Ukrainian morale and urged Vladimir Putin to end the war, while saying Berlin was ready for talks. Russia rejects accusations of hybrid warfare and says its strikes are retaliation for Ukrainian attacks.