Merz pledges €1.3 billion to Ukraine in surprise Kyiv trip

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made an unannounced trip to Kyiv on Sunday, Oct. 4, and announced more than €1.3 billion ($1.5 billion) in new aid for Ukraine. Air raid sirens sounded during the visit, and a Russian drone struck one of the capital's bridges. Merz arrived by train a day after Russia's Foreign Ministry told foreign diplomats and nationals to leave Kyiv. His message was that Germany "will not let ourselves be intimidated".euromaidanpress+2

About €1 billion of the package is military aid. It covers long-range strike weapons, combat drones and satellite technology "so that Ukraine can also target Russian launch pads," Merz said at a news conference. Another €350 million will pay for generators, substations and repairs to the power grid before winter. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the two countries also signed 15 agreements worth more than €8.5 billion. Most of them cover security cooperation, weapons production and procurement, and one expands joint counter-drone work.kdhnews+1

Targeting Russia's jet drones

Germany will pay for joint production of drones built to shoot down Russia's jet-powered attack drones. Merz said "significant technical breakthroughs" in recent weeks were speeding up production. "This will quickly and tangibly strengthen Ukraine's air defense," he said. Zelenskyy said Russia launched 900 jet-powered drones last week and Ukraine intercepted only about half of them.latimes

According to Reuters, the wider deal also covers jointly developing and producing weapons with a range of more than 1,000 kilometers, which Ukraine could use to strike deep inside Russia. Merz travelled with Economy Minister Katherina Reiche and executives from Siemens Energy, Hensoldt, Diehl Defence and Quantum Systems.reuters

A message to Putin

Merz and Zelenskyy toured the National Academy of Sciences building, where a Russian drone strike on Sept. 28 killed two people. Speaking there, Merz addressed Russia's president directly: "Mr Putin, put an end to this senseless war. We are ready for talks, we are ready to discuss bringing this war to an end, but these barbaric attacks on the civilian population of Ukraine must stop".dw+1

The same morning, a drone hit Kyiv's Northern Bridge over the Dnipro River. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said two people were wounded. Since Thursday, Russian strikes have fully or partly closed three of the city's six road bridges. Zelenskyy said the U.S. has proposed technical-level talks with Russia and Ukraine by the end of October, possibly in the United Arab Emirates. Ukraine has agreed to take part and is waiting for Moscow's answer.latimes

Pressure at home

Germany is Ukraine's largest donor and has sent more than €43.3 billion since the war began. Merz's own position at home is weakening. An INSA poll put the far-right AfD at 30% and his CDU/CSU alliance at a record low of 18%. AfD co-leader Alice Weidel criticized the trip, saying the money is needed for Germany's pension and health insurance funds. Merz said Germany will host a meeting of the "coalition of the willing" in Berlin this winter, together with France and the U.K.euronews+2