Merz Pledges €1.3 Billion to Ukraine on Kyiv Visit
Berlin will send €1 billion in military aid — long-range weapons, combat drones and interceptors — plus €350 million to repair Ukraine’s energy grid before winter.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv on Sunday with a new aid package worth more than €1.3 billion for Ukraine. The package centers on air defense and energy repairs ahead of winter.
About €1 billion of that is military assistance that Berlin had already budgeted. It covers long-range weapons, combat drones, satellite technology and interceptor drones. Another €350 million is earmarked for generators, substations and repairs to the energy grid.
Merz traveled by train with Economy Minister Katherina Reiche and executives from German defense and energy firms, including Siemens Energy, Hensoldt, Diehl Defence and Quantum Systems. The two countries are also finalizing a joint production deal covering drones and related systems.
A central piece of that cooperation is interceptor drones built to shoot down Russia’s jet-powered attack drones. Merz said recent technical breakthroughs would help reinforce Ukraine’s air defenses quickly. Zelenskyy said Ukraine had specifically raised the need for stronger air defenses in the meeting.
Air-raid sirens and explosions were reported in Kyiv while Merz was in the city. Russia’s Foreign Ministry had warned foreign nationals and diplomats against staying in or traveling to Ukraine, and said Moscow’s strikes are retaliation.
“I travelled to Kyiv today because Ukraine needs all our support in the coming weeks,” Merz said on arrival. He said Russian forces were bombing towns, residential buildings and heating plants. “If Russia is not stopped, sooner or later its war machine will turn against us.”
Zelenskyy said the package “includes weapons that will help us now, as well as support for our energy sector ahead of winter — an important energy package.”
Merz was also expected to press Ukraine on reforms sought by its European partners, including anti-corruption measures.
Russian strikes have repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s power plants and substations, and the energy money is meant to head off blackouts this winter. Germany has been one of Ukraine’s largest European military backers since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.
