Germany's Merz arrives in Kyiv to finalize drone deal, release aid

Germany's ​Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv on Sunday, accompanied by CEOs ​from German defence companies, in a show of support ‌for ​President Volodymyr Zelenskiy amid escalating Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities. Merz will announce a package of measures that includes the release €1 billion in military aid and €350 million for repairs in the energy sector, German government officials said. ‌The visit is also expected to finalize a deal for joint production of various kinds of drones.

"I travelled to Kyiv today because Ukraine needs all our support in the coming weeks," Merz said, saying that Russian forces were bombing towns, residential buildings and heating plants. "If Russia is not stopped, sooner or later its ‌war machine will turn against us." "I will tell President Zelenskiy today: 'You can continue to count on our help,'" Merz added.

The German chancellor is ‌accompanied by Minister for Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche and an economic delegation including executives from Siemens Energy, Hensoldt, Diehl Defence, Quantum Systems and other firms. Merz is also expected to press the Ukrainian government for progress on reforms requested by EU partners, including in the fight against corruption.

Zelenskiy said on Wednesday, after speaking to Merz by phone, that Ukraine would soon finalise the ⁠deal with ​Germany for the production of drones, missiles ⁠and related software. A key focus is expected to be the rapid production of anti-jet drones, which Quantum, a German defence-technology company, has successfully tested. Since the summer, Russia has used dozens ⁠of high-speed jet attack drones daily to target civilian and military infrastructure.

In April, Quantum and Ukrainian manufacturer WIY Drones announced the creation of Quantum WIY Industries, a joint venture ​to produce the Strila interceptor drone and related air-defence technologies. The deal also involves the joint development and production of weapons with a range ⁠of more than 1,000 km (600 miles) that Ukraine can use to launch attacks deep inside Russia.

Government officials said the increased cooperation would allow money and technology to flow back to ⁠the ​Federal Republic, where weapons are produced and defences against drones targeting critical infrastructure can be strengthened. On Thursday, Merz said Germany would not be intimidated by the rising number of hybrid attacks by Russia on European states.

Russia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday that Moscow would continue to systematically ⁠hit targets in Ukraine in what it said were retaliatory strikes for Ukrainian attacks on Russia in recent months. It warned foreign nationals and diplomatic staff ⁠against staying in or travelling ⁠to Ukraine. Zelenskiy told Reuters on Saturday his country's armed forces would double down on their attacks on oil refineries in Russia in response to Moscow's "new doctrine" of escalating attacks on civilian infrastructure, which he said was aimed at forcing residents ‌of Kyiv and other ‌cities to flee.

($1 = 0.8887 euros)