German chancellor visits Kyiv amid air raid sirens, pledging robust help as Russian strikes disrupt the capital.
Revealed On 4 Oct 2026
Russia has struck a key bridge in Kyiv simply as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived within the Ukrainian capital to fulfill President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The unannounced go to, marked by the sound of air sirens and explosions, got here on Sunday to underscore Germany’s help for the nation at a time when Russian assaults on Ukrainian cities are rising.
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In a written assertion, Merz mentioned he “travelled to Kyiv right this moment as a result of Ukraine wants all our help within the coming weeks”.
“If Russia will not be stopped, its battle machine will ultimately flip in opposition to us,” he mentioned.
Merz and Zelenskyy met on the Nationwide Academy of Sciences, which was struck by a Russian drone on September 28.
Zelenskyy advised Merz that Kyiv’s residents are going by means of “horrible nights and days” as a result of ongoing Russian assaults.
Merz was accompanied by his economic system minister, in addition to executives from a number of giant German firms, akin to Siemens Power and Diehl Defence.
Ukraine and Germany are additionally anticipated to finalise a deal to provide drones and different weapons collectively that may journey greater than 600 miles (965.6km) in an effort to strike deeper into Russia.
Germany has been one among Ukraine’s staunchest supporters. In April, the 2 international locations signed a army pact value greater than $4bn. On Sunday, a $1.1bn army assist package deal is about to be introduced, alongside $394m to restore harm to Ukraine’s power sector.
Merz’s go to comes a day after Russia warned overseas diplomats and nationals to go away the capital to keep away from getting damage.
Russia’s Ministry of Defence promised to accentuate strikes on Ukraine after Zelenskyy mentioned in an interview with the Reuters information company that it’s doubling down on focusing on Russian oil refineries after a number of civilians had been killed and wounded over the weekend.
The strike that hit the Northern Bridge over the Dnipro River on Sunday additionally broken a street and the availability of sizzling water within the space, in line with a social media assertion from Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko. It’s the second bridge within the capital to be hit this weekend.
Russia’s all-out battle on Ukraine is in its fifth 12 months. Either side have elevated the variety of drone and missile assaults on infrastructure, logistics and army websites in current months.
