Chancellor Friedrich Merz reached Kyiv on Sunday with German defence-industry executives as Berlin prepared military and energy-repair aid and a joint drone-production deal.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv on Sunday with Economy and Energy Minister Katherina Reiche and chief executives from German defence companies, Reuters reported. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met the delegation at a railway station.
German officials said Merz would announce the release of 1 billion euros in military aid and 350 million euros for energy-sector repairs, and that the visit was expected to finalise joint production of several kinds of drones. Merz said he travelled because Ukraine needed support in the coming weeks and that Russian forces were bombing towns, residential buildings and heating plants.
The economic group includes executives from Siemens Energy, Hensoldt, Diehl Defence and Quantum Systems. A focus is rapid production of anti-jet interceptor drones after Quantum and Ukrainian manufacturer WIY Drones set up a joint venture in April. The cooperation is also expected to cover weapons with a range of more than 1,000 kilometres.
Merz is expected to press Kyiv on reforms sought by European Union partners, including anti-corruption measures. Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that Moscow would keep striking targets in Ukraine and warned foreign nationals against travelling there. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told Reuters on Saturday that Ukrainian forces would increase attacks on Russian oil refineries.
The visit ties German industrial capacity to Ukraine's air-defence needs as Russian jet-powered drones have been used against civilian and military sites since the summer, according to Reuters. Officials said the arrangement would also send money and technology back to production in Germany.
People Sentiments Mixed
- Merz said Ukraine could continue to count on German help.
- Merz said that if Russia is not stopped its war machine would later turn against others.
- Zelenskiy told Reuters Ukraine would step up strikes on Russian refineries.