Air raid sirens and booms from incoming attacks were the backdrop in Kyiv on Sunday as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met with President Volodymyr Zelensky and pledged a fresh surge of support for Ukraine. The package calls for $1.13 billion in military aid and $395 million to repair the battered energy sector before winter arrives, according to German officials, as well as finalizing a deal to jointly produce drones in Ukraine, Reuters reports. Addressing Russian President Vladimir Putin on the unannounced trip, Merz called for peace talks and an end to attacks on Ukraine's civilians, saying, "Mr. Putin, put an end to this senseless war."
Kyiv endured four air raid alerts Sunday morning, with one Russian strike damaging a major Dnipro River bridge and injuring two, the city's mayor said. Merz and Zelensky toured a heavily damaged Academy of Sciences building where a recent drone strike killed at least two people. The German aid also covers drones, missiles, and long-range weapons that could hit targets inside Russia. "This is weaponry that will help right now," Zelensky posted. In addition, Merz is pressing Ukraine for reforms sought by the European Union, including stronger anti-corruption measures. At their news conference, per the AP, Zelensky said Merz's visit during Russian attacks was "an important signal of support for Ukraine and of the courage of Germany and all of Europe."
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