German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made an unannounced visit to Kyiv on Sunday, reaffirming Berlin’s commitment to military and energy assistance for Ukraine amidst a renewed wave of Russian attacks. Speaking alongside President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the heavily damaged Academy of Sciences building, Merz condemned the ongoing violence and called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt what he described as “barbaric attacks” on civilians.
The visit occurred against a backdrop of significant danger; shortly before Merz’s arrival, Russian Foreign Ministry officials had urged foreign diplomats to leave Kyiv, warning that strikes were retaliating against Ukrainian military operations. The warnings proved prescient, as air raid sirens sounded throughout the morning and Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that a Russian drone had struck the Northern Bridge, one of the city’s critical infrastructure links.
Zelenskyy described the capital’s current conditions as a “terrible situation,” labeling Russian forces as “absolute barbarians.” He emphasized the critical importance of international solidarity, stating, “It is vital that Ukraine is not left alone in the face of this terror.}
During his trip, Merz announced a new German support package valued at over €1.3 billion ($1.5 billion). According to Zelenskyy, the agreement includes €1 billion designated for military aid and an additional €350 million allocated for repairs to Ukraine’s energy sector ahead of the winter. The two nations also finalized 15 cooperation agreements worth more than €8.5 billion, focusing on defense, production, and joint technological projects.
German government sources indicated that a key component of this cooperation involves the development of thousands of interceptor drones designed to counter Russia’s increasingly common jet-powered strikes on infrastructure. Plans also include expanding the capacity to produce long-range weaponry capable of targeting depths of over 1,000 kilometers (620 miles).
Merz, who traveled to the Ukrainian capital by train accompanied by Economy Minister Katherina Reiche and executives from major defense and energy firms including Siemens Energy and Diehl Defense, stressed the mutual benefits of the partnership. “German and Ukrainian companies are jointly developing technologies that benefit both countries. That makes us safer and stronger,” he said.
Reflecting on the geopolitical stakes, Merz asserted, “If Russia is not stopped, it will turn its war machine against us sooner or later.” He further warned that hesitation from Germany would ripple across the continent, stating, “If we in Germany waver, Europe wavers. And if Europe wavers, Ukraine wavers.”
This marks the fourth visit by a German chancellor to Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Merz’s predecessor, Olaf Scholz, visited twice, while Friedrich Merz’s first trip occurred in May 2025. The chancellor acknowledged the approaching challenges of winter, noting, “A fifth winter of war is about to begin. Russia is bombarding cities, apartments and power stations. You can count on our help.}
The visit comes as domestic politics in Germany show signs of strain. Recent state elections in September saw gains for parties critical of continued expenditure on Ukraine, including the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and the Left Party in Berlin. Despite this, Merz remained firm, vowing that Germany would not be divided on the issue of supporting Ukraine.
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