IRIA News

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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made an unannounced visit to Kyiv on October 4, 2026, accompanied by Economy Minister Katherina Reiche and representatives of German defense and energy companies, as Germany announced a new package of military and energy support for Ukraine.

Merz arrived in the Ukrainian capital by special train as Russian attacks continued against Kyiv and other parts of the country. Germany announced around €1 billion (about $1.13 billion) in additional military assistance.

The latest package includes funding for interceptor drones designed to counter Russian jet-powered drones, as well as long-range weapons, combat drones and satellite technology. Germany also pledged around €350 million (about $393 million) in energy assistance for generators, substations and repairs to infrastructure damaged by Russian attacks.

Germany will support the production and delivery of thousands of interceptor drones to the Ukrainian armed forces in the coming months, while Germany and Ukraine will expand joint production of long-range weapons and other defense systems.

The visit comes as Ukraine approaches another winter of the war and faces continued Russian attacks on cities, infrastructure and energy facilities. It is Merz’s second visit to Ukraine since becoming German chancellor.

Today, Friedrich Merz @bundeskanzler and I had a very productive meeting. There is a new support package for Ukraine – a comprehensive package worth more than €1.3 billion. It includes weapons that will help us now, as well as support for our energy sector ahead of winter – an… pic.twitter.com/9wB9EPB0Np

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 4, 2026

New Military and Energy Support

German government sources said thousands of interceptor drones will be delivered to Ukraine in the coming months. The systems are intended to counter Russian jet-powered drones, which are more difficult to intercept because of their higher speeds.

Germany and Ukraine are also expanding joint production of long-range weapons and other defense systems. The two countries are working toward agreements on the development and production of drones and other long-range weapons, including systems with ranges of more than 1,000 kilometers.

Berlin has also allocated around €350 million (about $393 million) in energy assistance for Ukraine, including funding for generators, substations and repairs to energy infrastructure damaged by Russian attacks. The assistance is intended to help protect Ukraine’s energy system ahead of the winter season.

Merz was accompanied by around 10 business executives from German defense and energy companies. The delegation included representatives from companies such as Siemens Energy, Hensoldt, Diehl Defence and Quantum Systems, reflecting the growing focus on industrial cooperation between Germany and Ukraine.

German officials said the companies accompanying Merz signed 14 agreements with the Ukrainian government and businesses worth roughly €6.6 billion (about $7.38 billion).

The agreements include the supply of IRIS-T air-defense missiles by Diehl Defence, radar equipment from Hensoldt and interceptor drones from Quantum Systems designed to counter Russian jet-powered drones.

The deals are intended to deepen defense-industrial cooperation between Germany and Ukraine while also creating opportunities for German companies and supporting the expansion of Ukraine’s defense production.

Germany and Ukraine signed a package of defense agreements worth around €4 billion (about $4.7 billion) in April. The latest commitments would further increase Berlin’s military and economic support for Kyiv.

Merz Calls for Support for Ukraine

After arriving in Kyiv, Merz said Ukraine needed German and European support in the coming weeks. “Mr. Putin, stop this senseless war! We are ready for talks, we are ready to discuss how to end this war. But these barbaric attacks on Ukraine’s civilian population must stop,” Merz said.

He also said Russia only understands the “language of strength” and warned that Ukraine was entering another difficult winter.

In a written statement, Merz said he had travelled to Kyiv because Ukraine needed “all our support in the coming weeks. If Russia is not stopped, its war machine will sooner or later turn against us.”

Deutschland hilft der Ukraine. Aber die Ukraine hilft auch uns. Mit ihrer Erfahrung, etwa in der Drohnenabwehr, aber auch mit Aufträgen für die deutsche Industrie in Milliardenhöhe. Heute haben wir dazu Vereinbarungen unterzeichnet. Diese Partnerschaft ist keine Einbahnstraße. https://t.co/dX8FdWwv2M

— Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz (@bundeskanzler) October 4, 2026

The talks between German Chancellor Merz and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy focused on military assistance, energy supplies and closer cooperation between the two countries.

The two leaders also attended a ceremony at a memorial for fallen Ukrainian soldiers. Zelenskyy said Kyiv’s residents were experiencing “terrible nights and days” as Russian attacks continued.

Visit Under Heightened Security

Merz’s visit took place under heightened security conditions. Russia warned foreign nationals and diplomats on Saturday against travelling to Kyiv and advised them to leave the city because of the risk of Russian airstrikes.

On Sunday morning, a Russian drone struck the roadway of Kyiv’s Northern Bridge over the Dnipro River, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko. The strike damaged the roadway and disrupted traffic. The strike followed several days of Russian attacks on Kyiv’s bridges.

The attacks came as Russia and Ukraine continued to intensify strikes involving drones and missiles against infrastructure, logistics and military targets. Merz and Zelenskyy also visited the National Academy of Sciences, which was struck by a Russian drone on September 28. The attack killed two people and injured seven others.

The moment of the Russian S8000 Banderol cruise missile strike on the "Northern" Bridge across the Dnieper River in Kyiv. https://t.co/Vlfr6yaHJy

— AMK Mapping 🇳🇿 (@AMK_Mapping_) October 4, 2026

The security situation highlighted the conditions under which the German chancellor made his visit and the continuing risks facing Ukraine’s capital.

Defense Cooperation and Domestic Pressure

Germany and Ukraine are expanding cooperation between their defense industries, with German companies signing new agreements covering air defense, radar systems and drone technology.

The two countries are also expanding joint production of long-range weapons and other defense systems as Berlin seeks to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to counter Russian attacks.

Support for Ukraine is also facing growing political pressure inside Germany. An INSA poll conducted from September 28 to October 2 showed the CDU/CSU at 18%, its lowest level in the poll, while the AfD reached 30%. The SPD and Greens each stood at 14%, and the Left Party at 10%. Only 15% of respondents said they were satisfied with Merz’s performance, while 79% were dissatisfied. Satisfaction with the federal government stood at 14%, while 79% were dissatisfied.

An ARD-DeutschlandTrend poll conducted from August 31 to September 2 found that 42% of Germans believed German arms deliveries to Ukraine had gone too far, the highest level recorded by infratest dimap since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

More than half of respondents in eastern Germany held this view, while 52% nationally said German military support for Ukraine was either appropriate or should be increased.