Germany's Merz visits Kyiv as Russia strikes bridge

Friedrich Merz joined Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in paying tribute to fallen Ukrainian soldiersImage: Kay Nietfeld/dpa/picture allianceAdvertisementGerman Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on Sunday morning, accompanied by Economy Minister Katherina Reiche and a delegation of leading German economic figures.

"If Russia is not stopped, it will turn its war machine against us sooner or later," Merz said upon his arrival by train.

Air raid sirens blared across the Ukrainian capital throughout the morning, as Kyiv's mayor announced one of the city's bridges had been hit by a Russian drone. 

During his visit, Merz is expected to announce a new raft of measures to support Ukraine in its fight against the ongoing Russian invasion, including a further billion euros in German military aid, plus €350 million ($395 million) for energy sector repairs, according to German media reports.

The chancellor is also expected to unveil plans for the co-production of interceptor drones and long-range missiles both in Ukraine and Germany.

According to German government sources cited by the Reuters and dpa news agencies, arms production is expected to focus on the development and delivery of thousands of drones capable of intercepting the rapid, jet-powered drones increasingly being deployed by the Russian military against civilian infrastructure targets in Ukraine.

The production of missiles with a range of over 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) is also expected to be ramped up, enhancing Ukraine's ability to strike military and logistical targets far beyond the frontline and inside Russia itself.

Merz is expected to emphasize how Germany also stands to benefit from the expanded cooperation, both in terms of its own defense against Russian hybrid activities and in terms of jobs and technology.

The chancellor is also expected to speak to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about the progress of political reforms in Ukraine and the continuing battle against corruption.

The visit comes just hours after the Russian Foreign Ministry warned foreign diplomats and other visitors to avoid the Ukrainian capital, and military and government buildings in particular.

"The responsibility for any negative consequences lies entirely with those who ignore this warning," read a statement, which claimed that Russian strikes were responses to "terrorist acts by the Ukrainian armed forces against our country's civilian infrastructure."

In recent days, Russia has attacked several bridges across the Dnipro river as well as energy infrastructure, and the city's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, on Friday said that Kyiv was in a "very dramatic situation."

Another strike followed on Sunday during Merz's visit, with Klitschko confirming that a bridge had been struck.

"Impact on the road surface of the Northern Bridge. Emergency services are heading to the scene," the mayor wrote on the Telegram messaging service. 

But the German delegation has not been deterred, with Merz saying upon arrival that "Ukraine will need all our support in the coming weeks" as winter approaches and Russian attacks intensify.

"A fifth winter of war is about to begin," he said. "Russia is bombarding cities, apartments and power stations. I will tell President Zelenskyy today: 'You can count on our help.'"

Merz's arrival in Kyiv marks the fourth such visit to Ukraine by a German chancellor since the full-scale Russian invasion began in February 2022.

His predecessor, Olaf Scholz, visited twice during his three-year tenure, while Merz himself first traveled to Kyiv in May 2025 – just four days after taking office. He was accompanied on that occasion by French President Emmanuel Macron, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and former British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Sunday's visit comes just days after Merz had assured Ukraine of Germany's support, despite isolated resistance and criticism at home.

"If we in Germany waver, Europe wavers," he said on Thursday after conferring the international Westphalian Peace Prize upon the NATO military alliance and its secretary general, Mark Rutte. "And if Europe wavers, Ukraine wavers."

Germany remains Ukraine's most important backer, both militarily and financially, but state elections in September saw significant gains for parties at both ends of the political spectrum who are critical of expenditure on Ukraine: the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and the socialist Left Party in Berlin.

In his speech on Thursday, Merz called out in particular "the AfD and their Russian backers" and promised Ukraine that Germany would not be divided.

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