German 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.
The chancellor 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.
Merz 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 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 itself 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.
Russia warns against diplomatic visits
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.”
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 [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy today: ‘You can count on our help.’”
More to follow …
