German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) arrived in Kyiv early Sunday morning for an unannounced solidarity visit. The Ukrainian capital has been suffering from intensified Russian attacks for weeks. Moscow has pledged to continue these assaults with undiminished severity and reiterated warnings against travel to Kyiv. "I will tell President Zelensky today: 'You can continue to count on our help'," Merz stated upon arrival.
According to government sources, the Chancellor brought new military aid worth one billion euros. This assistance is intended to help Ukraine better defend against devastating attacks by jet drones and missiles. Specifically, Ukraine will soon receive newly developed interception systems for jet drones, against which it has been largely defenseless. Additionally, Ukraine will receive more long-range weapons with ranges up to 1000 kilometers to counter missile launch sites in the Russian hinterland. This funding was already allocated in the budget and has now been released.
Ukraine will also receive spare parts for energy facilities damaged by Russia, valued at 350 million euros. "The fifth winter of the war is about to begin for the people. Russia is bombing cities, residential buildings, and heating plants," Merz remarked, adding, "The Ukrainians are not being demoralized by terror." While Russian forces are making little progress in the east, Moscow's strategy has long focused on breaking Ukrainian resilience through intensified attacks on civilians and energy infrastructure. The country is preparing for its harshest winter of the war yet.
This marks the Chancellor's second visit to Ukraine since taking office. "I traveled to Kyiv today because Ukraine needs all our support in the coming weeks. If Russia is not stopped, its war machine will eventually turn against us," Merz explained. He is accompanied by Minister for Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche (CDU) and a small economic delegation. Merz arrived in Kyiv from Poland after a nine-hour train journey under heightened security measures.
Moscow Warns Government Representatives Against Ukraine Visits
Just hours before Merz's departure, the Russian Foreign Ministry had "urgently" warned foreign government representatives against traveling to Ukraine. They expressed concern that warnings were being ignored and that "some individuals are deliberately placing themselves in mortal danger." Russian armed forces, they stated, would continue their large-scale retaliatory strikes. Russia, which invaded Ukraine in 2022 and has targeted infrastructure and civilians for years, justifies its expanded attacks by claiming Ukraine is retaliating with drones on Russian territory.
Merz's visit to Ukraine, despite Russian threats and with a relatively large delegation, is seen as a signal to Moscow. The five-person economic delegation includes the CEO of Siemens Energy, Christian Bruch, and the managing directors of defense companies Hensoldt and Quantum Systems, Oliver Dörre and Sven Kruck. Hensoldt produces the Iris-T guided missile, crucial for Ukrainian defense, while Quantum Systems developed the drone interception systems. "Our partnership is not a one-way street. German and Ukrainian companies are jointly developing technologies that benefit both countries. This makes us safer and stronger," the Chancellor said.
In a fundamental speech in Münster a few days prior, Merz assured that Germany would steadfastly continue its support for Ukraine despite Russian hybrid attacks. "This war concerns us, very directly, because Europe's security, our security, is at stake in Ukraine. It's about us too," he emphasized.
