Merz visits Kyiv with defence executives ahead of German aid and joint production deals

Kyiv, Ukraine. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv on Sunday with German defence company executives in a show of support for President Volodymyr Zelenskiy amid escalating Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities. German government officials said he would announce measures including the release of €1 billion in military aid and €350 million for energy-sector repairs.

Support and reform agenda

“I travelled to Kyiv today because Ukraine needs all our support in the coming weeks,” Merz said, noting 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,” he said.

Merz added: “I will tell President Zelenskiy today: ‘You can continue to count on our help.’”

The chancellor is accompanied by Minister for Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche and an economic delegation that includes 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 efforts to combat corruption.

Joint weapons production

The visit is expected to finalise a deal for the joint production of various types of drones. Zelenskiy said on Wednesday, after speaking to Merz by phone, that Ukraine would soon finalise an agreement with Germany to produce drones, missiles and related software.

A key focus is expected to be the rapid production of anti-jet drones, which German defence-technology company Quantum 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), which Ukraine can use to launch attacks deep inside Russia.