Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced another 1 billion euros in military aid and 350 million euros for energy repairs during a Kyiv visit marked by Russian drone strikes.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz used a visit to Kyiv on Sunday to announce a further 1 billion euros, about 1.1 billion dollars, in military aid and to say Germany would not be intimidated into dropping support for Ukraine. Reuters reported that Russian drone strikes hit the capital during the visit and that Merz called on President Vladimir Putin to abandon the war.
German officials said executives travelling with Merz signed 14 agreements with Ukrainian counterparts worth roughly 6.6 billion euros. Those deals included IRIS-T air-defence missiles from Diehl Defence, radar equipment from Hensoldt, and jet drone interceptors from Quantum Systems, Reuters reported. The Guardian separately recorded a 350 million euro pledge for repairs to Ukraine's energy sector.
Merz said Germany would fund joint production of drones designed to intercept Russia's jet-powered drones, citing recent technical progress. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the visit mattered because Ukraine was also sharing experience and orders that create work in Germany, and he praised a Quantum interceptor known as SPYS.
Air-raid alerts interrupted the programme. The Guardian said sirens and explosions sounded repeatedly in Kyiv while Merz was there. Russia has rejected Western accusations of hybrid warfare as baseless, Reuters noted.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine and Germany were close to finalising a broader defence arrangement covering drones, missiles and related software. Further implementation depends on the signed company agreements and on Berlin's announced funding for military equipment and energy repairs.
People Sentiments Mixed
- Merz said the visit showed Germany would not be intimidated.
- Zelenskyy said Germany was standing with Ukraine at a difficult time, according to reports of his remarks.