German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reached Kyiv by train on Sunday with Economy Minister Katherina Reiche and defence-industry executives, as Berlin prepared further military and energy-repair funding.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv on Sunday, 4 October 2026, as Russia continued strikes on Ukrainian cities ahead of winter. Reuters reported that he travelled with Economy and Energy Minister Katherina Reiche and chief executives from German defence and energy companies, and was met at the railway station by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
Merz said he had come because Ukraine needed support in the coming weeks, and warned that if Russia was not stopped its war machine would sooner or later be turned against Germany and its allies. He said he would tell President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that Ukraine could continue to count on German help.
German government officials told Reuters that the package to be announced includes the release of 1 billion euros in military aid and 350 million euros for repairs in the energy sector. The visit was also expected to finalise a deal on joint production of drones. The delegation included executives from Siemens Energy, Hensoldt, Diehl Defence and Quantum Systems, Reuters reported.
The trip places Berlin’s industrial capacity next to Kyiv’s request for air defence and power-system repairs. German officials framed the journey as support during an expanded Russian air campaign, rather than as a change in the formal status of the war.
Officials said the measures would be set out during meetings in the Ukrainian capital. No independent confirmation of signed contract values was available in the arrival reports.