German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited Kyiv on Sunday, pledging military and energy aid and a drone-production deal, while Russian strikes sounded across the capital and damaged the Northern Bridge.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv on Sunday as air-raid sirens and explosions sounded in the Ukrainian capital. Reuters reported he met President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and was due to announce about 1 billion euros in military aid, 350 million euros for energy-sector repairs, and a deal on joint drone production.
The two leaders visited Ukraine's Academy of Sciences, damaged in a drone strike last week in which at least two people died, Reuters said. Merz called on President Vladimir Putin to end the war and said attacks on civilians had to stop. RFE/RL quoted him describing strikes in central Kyiv as daily war crimes.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said one strike hit the Northern Bridge across the Dnipro, damaging the roadway. Al Jazeera reported hot-water supply in the area was also affected and that it was the second capital bridge hit over the weekend. Four air-raid alerts were heard on Sunday morning, Reuters said.
The visit was unannounced. RFE/RL noted it came a day after Russia warned foreign nationals, including diplomats, of mortal danger if they came to Ukraine. Merz has framed support for Ukraine as a matter of European security if Russian attacks are not stopped.
German officials said the package was to be finalised during the trip. This brief does not treat the aid figures as disbursed funds beyond the pledge described by German government officials to Reuters.
People Sentiments Negative
- Merz said Putin should end what he called a senseless war.
- Klitschko reported the Northern Bridge strike on Telegram.
- Al Jazeera quoted Merz saying Ukraine needs all of Germany's support in the coming weeks.