Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced roughly 1 billion euros in military aid and 350 million euros for energy repairs while visiting Kyiv as Russian strikes continued.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz used a visit to Kyiv on Sunday to announce further support for Ukraine as Russian attacks continued. The Guardian reported that he pledged 1 billion euros, about 1.1 billion dollars, in military aid and said Germany would fund joint production of drones meant to intercept Russia's jet-powered drones.
He also announced 350 million euros for repairs to the energy sector, speaking alongside President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. German officials said executives travelling with Merz signed 14 agreements worth about 6.6 billion euros, including deals involving Diehl Defence, Hensoldt and Quantum Systems, the Guardian reported.
bne IntelliNews, citing Zelenskyy, put the new military and energy package at about 1.3 billion euros and said he described 15 agreements with a combined value above 8.5 billion euros. The figures for the number and value of commercial agreements differ between those accounts.
Air-raid sirens and explosions were heard repeatedly in Kyiv during the visit, the Guardian said. Merz arrived by train with Economy Minister Katherina Reiche and defence and energy executives, and visited a science academy building damaged by a Russian drone on 28 September, according to bne IntelliNews citing Reuters.
Germany said it would not be intimidated into dropping support for Ukraine. Further deliveries depend on the contracts announced in Kyiv; neither government published a full public schedule of shipments on Monday morning.
People Sentiments Mixed
- Merz said Germany would not be intimidated into dropping its support for Ukraine.