Merz in Kyiv: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Ukraine's capital on Sunday, October 4, 2026, to the sound of air-raid sirens and explosions, meeting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy amid some of the heaviest Russian drone attacks on the city since 2022. Merz is expected to announce €1 billion in military aid plus €350 million for energy-sector repairs, and to finalize a landmark deal for the joint German-Ukrainian production of military drones.
Sirens and Explosions Over Kyiv
Merz's visit began under fire. Four air-raid alerts rang out across Kyiv on Sunday morning, and explosions and air-defence fire were heard across the city as the chancellor met Zelenskyy. One Russian strike hit the Northern Bridge across the Dnipro River, damaging its roadway and a hot-water supply system and injuring two people, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram. Russia has been pounding Kyiv's bridges since last week in an effort to sever links between the capital's two banks and disrupt logistics routes between central and eastern Ukraine, Reuters reported.
The two leaders visited the badly damaged building of Ukraine's Academy of Sciences, where at least two people were killed in a drone strike last week. From Kyiv, Merz delivered his bluntest message yet to Moscow: "Mr Putin, put an end to this senseless war. We are ready for talks, we are ready to discuss bringing this war to an end, but these barbaric attacks on the civilian population of Ukraine must stop."
€1 Billion in Military Aid, €350 Million for Energy
German government officials told Reuters that Merz will announce a package including the release of €1 billion ($1.13 billion) in military aid and €350 million for repairs to Ukraine's energy sector, which Russia has systematically targeted as winter approaches. "I travelled to Kyiv today because Ukraine needs all our support in the coming weeks," Merz said. "If Russia is not stopped, sooner or later its war machine will turn against us." He pledged to Zelenskyy directly: "You can continue to count on our help."
Drone Factories: The Deeper Deal
The most consequential item on the agenda may be the joint production deal for various kinds of drones, expected to be finalized during the visit. Zelenskyy had said on Wednesday, after a phone call with Merz, that Ukraine would soon finalize an arrangement with Germany on producing drones, missiles, and related software. According to Reuters, the deal covers rapid production of interceptor drones and the joint development and production of weapons with a range above 1,000 km — missiles Ukraine could use to strike deep inside Russia.
Merz did not come alone: he was accompanied by Economy Minister Katherina Reiche and an economic delegation including executives from Siemens Energy, Hensoldt, Diehl Defence, and Quantum Systems. As the Baltic Security Monitor notes, the lineup signals Berlin's shift from merely financing Ukraine's war effort to producing with it. Merz is also expected to press Kyiv for progress on EU-backed reforms, including anti-corruption measures.
Takeaway
Merz's Kyiv visit — conducted to the sound of sirens — pairs a €1.35 billion support package with something longer-term: turning Ukraine and Germany into co-producers of the drones and missiles defining this war. Whether the factory deal survives the politics of escalation will be the test; the sirens, for now, continue.
Watch
Watch Reuters' video report on Chancellor Merz's arrival in Kyiv — sirens and explosions audible as the German chancellor begins his visit to meet President Zelenskyy.
Sources: Reuters via LA Post, Reuters via SRN News, Baltic Security Monitor, Business Day.