Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced about €1 billion in military aid and €350 million for energy repairs during a visit to Kyiv as Russian strikes continued.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz used a visit to Kyiv on Sunday to announce new support for Ukraine as Russian attacks on the capital continued. The Guardian reported that he pledged €1 billion, about $1.1 billion, in military aid and €350 million for repairs to the energy sector.
Merz said Germany would fund joint production of drones meant to intercept Russia’s jet-powered drones and that recent technical work was speeding production. He spoke alongside President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Air-raid sirens sounded in Kyiv during the visit, the Guardian said.
German officials said executives travelling with Merz signed 14 agreements worth about €6.6 billion, including deals with Diehl Defence on IRIS-T missiles, Hensoldt on radar and Quantum Systems on jet-drone interceptors. bne IntelliNews, citing Zelenskyy, put the package at about €1.3 billion in military and energy aid and said 15 documents had a combined value above €8.5 billion.
Merz arrived by train with Economy Minister Katherina Reiche and company leaders including Siemens Energy, Hensoldt, Diehl Defence and Quantum Systems, bne reported, citing Reuters. He visited the National Academy of Sciences building, damaged by a Russian drone on 28 September.
The figures for signed industrial agreements differ slightly between the Guardian’s account of German officials and Zelenskyy’s Telegram tally. Both describe a military package near €1 billion and energy support near €350 million.
People Sentiments Mixed
- Merz said Germany would not be intimidated into dropping support for Ukraine.
- Zelenskyy publicised a larger tally of signed agreements than the figure German officials gave for the same visit.