Germany will provide an additional €1 billion ($1.1bn) in military aid to Ukraine as Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited Kyiv amid intensified Russian drone attacks.
Merz said Germany would not be intimidated into reducing its support for Ukraine, describing the country’s defence as a matter of European security.
Air-raid sirens and explosions were reported across Kyiv during Merz’s visit on Sunday, as he and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy paid tribute to soldiers killed in the war.
Germany will also provide €350 million to help repair Ukraine’s damaged energy infrastructure.
Merz accused Russia of trying to weaken Ukrainian morale through attacks on telecommunications, electricity and transport infrastructure, as well as military targets.
“We will not be intimidated,” Merz said, adding that Germany remained one of Ukraine’s strongest supporters.
German officials said companies accompanying Merz had signed 14 agreements with the Ukrainian government and businesses worth about €6.6 billion.
The agreements include the supply of IRIS-T air defence missiles by Diehl Defence, radar equipment from Hensoldt and jet-powered drone interceptors from Quantum Systems.
Zelenskiy said the agreements would benefit both countries by supporting Ukraine’s defence while creating jobs for German companies.
He also praised the new SPYS jet drone interceptor developed by Quantum Systems, saying Ukraine and Germany were close to finalising a wider defence agreement covering drones, missiles and related software.
Russian drone attacks continued during Merz’s visit, with one strike damaging Kyiv’s Northern Bridge across the Dnipro River.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said two people were injured and a hot-water supply system was damaged.
Zelenskiy accused Russia of escalating attacks on infrastructure because of setbacks on the battlefield and warned that Ukraine would retaliate.
He also said Russian attacks on bridges were aimed at disrupting movement and logistics between different parts of the country.
Meanwhile, Merz called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end what he described as a “senseless war”.
He said Germany was ready to support negotiations but insisted that attacks on Ukrainian civilians must stop.
Zelenskiy said US peace envoy Steve Witkoff had urged a return to trilateral talks involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States.
He said Ukraine was ready to meet this month but called for greater Western pressure on Moscow to help end the war.
Russia has maintained that its strikes are retaliatory responses to Ukrainian attacks and has rejected accusations of conducting hybrid warfare against Europe.
