German Chancellor Makes Surprise Visit to Kyiv Amid Intensifying Russian Offensives, Announces Additional Aid

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made a surprise visit to Kyiv on the 4th (local time) to reaffirm Germany's support for Ukraine and announce a massive additional aid package, according to AP and AFP reports.

Arriving in Kyiv by train early in the morning, Chancellor Merz said in a statement released by the German government, "I visited Kyiv today because Ukraine needs our full support in the coming weeks. If we fail to stop Russia, its war machine will soon target us."

German media reported that Katherina Reiche, Germany's Minister for Economic Affairs, and ten executives from German defense and energy companies accompanied Chancellor Merz on his unannounced visit to Kyiv.

Regarding this, Chancellor Merz emphasized that the cooperative relationship between Germany and Ukraine is not a one-sided one, stating, "German and Ukrainian companies are jointly developing technologies that benefit both countries, making us safer and stronger."

Following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Chancellor Merz held a joint press conference and announced an additional aid package totaling 1.3 billion euros (approximately 2 trillion won).

Of this, about 1 billion euros (approximately 1.5 trillion won) is military assistance, including long-range strike weapons, combat drones, and satellite technology.

350 million euros (approximately 530 billion won) is energy assistance required for power plants, substations, and repair work in preparation for the winter season.

In a separate post on X (formerly Twitter), President Zelenskyy stated that Germany and Ukraine signed 15 agreements worth approximately 8.5 billion euros (approximately 12.9 trillion won) aimed at security cooperation, weapons production and procurement, and expanded joint drone response efforts.

President Zelenskyy also evaluated Chancellor Merz's visit during the joint press conference as "an important signal showing support for Ukraine and the courage of Germany and all of Europe."

Chancellor Merz emphasized that funding will be provided for the joint production of systems to intercept Russia's jet-propelled drones, noting that technical breakthroughs in recent weeks have accelerated production speeds.

President Zelenskyy mentioned that Russia launched 900 jet-propelled drones just this week alone, of which Ukraine was only able to shoot down about half.

The two leaders toured the National Academy of Sciences building in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, which was damaged during Russian airstrikes last month.

While Chancellor Merz was staying, air raid sirens repeatedly wailed in Kyiv, creating an atmosphere of tension.

Earlier that morning, a bridge over the Dnipro River in Kyiv was also damaged by Russian military drones.

At the site of the National Academy of Sciences strike, Chancellor Merz stated, "These barbaric attacks targeting Ukrainian civilians must stop," and told President Vladimir Putin, "We are ready for dialogue."

Chancellor Merz's trip to Kyiv took place the very next day after Russia warned foreigners and diplomats to evacuate while signaling a "massive" airstrike targeting Kyiv.

In recent days, Russia has been stepping up the intensity of its offensive targeting the Ukrainian capital by attacking multiple bridges across the Dnipro River, which divides Kyiv from north to south, as well as energy infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Chancellor Merz stated in a separate social media post that the coming weeks are "decisive" for Ukraine, which is why he decided to visit Ukraine to demonstrate his support.

He wrote, "Germany's security also depends on the outcome of this war," adding, "We are helping Ukraine because we have a vital and important interest at stake as well."

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.