Merz visits Kyiv amid escalation of Russian strikes on Kyiv bridges
Ukraine and Germany signed a $1.5 billion arms deal to help counter the escalation of Russian drone attacks, as a solidarity visit by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz coincided on Sunday with new strikes and air raid sirens in Kyiv.
The agreement includes weapons for combat drones and support for Ukraine’s severely damaged energy sector, which Russia has targeted to cut off heating and electricity during the harsh winter months, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who posted about it on the platform X.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv on Sunday to reaffirm European support for Ukraine, as Russia intensified its strikes on the capital, again targeting a bridge.
Air raid sirens sounded repeatedly, including while Zelenskyy escorted Merz to inspect damage at the National Academy of Sciences, after it was hit by a Russian attack drone on Monday, killing two people.
Merz said, “Here we can realize the utter futility of this war,” adding, “These attacks on the Ukrainian civilian population must stop.”
An explosion heard across the city damaged the road surface on the Northern Bridge, one of several bridges connecting eastern and western Kyiv over the Dnipro River, which has been hit repeatedly over the past four days.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that Kyiv, which has largely remained untouched by the destruction affecting areas near the front lines during nearly five years of conflict, must now be on high alert due to the escalating attacks.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy stated that the United States is seeking to mediate a new round of talks between Ukraine and Russia to end the war, which has lasted four and a half years, with the talks expected to take place by the end of October.
Merz announced that “Ukraine needs our full support in the coming weeks,” adding, “If Russia is not stopped, its military machine will eventually turn against us.”
Speaking at a joint press conference with Zelenskyy, Merz said the latest agreement includes joint production of drones designed to intercept enemy drones.
He added, “Significant technical breakthroughs have already been achieved in this area in recent weeks.”
Merz said, “We are supplying Ukraine with long-range weapons, combat drones, and satellite technology so it can also target Russian launch sites.”
Russia threatened on Sunday to intensify its strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure in response to Zelenskyy’s statements vowing to increase attacks on Russian oil refineries.
Merz called this week for unity against Russia within NATO and Europe, as well as in his own country, where the pro-Moscow far-right party Alternative for Germany is gaining ground.
