Germany’s Merz arrives in Kyiv to the sound of sirens and explosions

By Andreas Rinke and Felix Hoske The sound of air raid sirens and explosions rang out in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv on Sunday as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, pledging support for Ukraine and urging Russia to halt its escalating attacks. Merz will announce a package of measures including the release of €1 billion ($1. 13 billion) in military aid and €350 million for repairs in the energy sector, German government officials said. A deal for joint production of various kinds of drones is also due to be finalised. The two leaders visited the badly damaged building of Ukraine’s Academy of Sciences, where at least two people died in a drone strike last week as Russia pounded the heart of Kyiv with some of the most persistent drone strikes since the start of the war in 2022.

“I can only repeat it once again from this point: Mr Putin, put an end to this senseless war,” Merz said. “We are ready for talks, we are ready to discuss bringing this war to an end, but these barbaric attacks on the civilian population of Ukraine must stop,” he added. Four air raid alerts were heard across the capital on Sunday morning, and explosions and air defence systems also sounded across the city. One of the Russian strikes hit the Northern Bridge across the Dnipro River, damaging its roadway, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram. He said the strike had injured two people and damaged a hot water supply system in the area. Russia has been attacking Kyiv’s bridges since last week in an effort to disrupt links between the capital’s two banks and logistics routes between central and eastern Ukraine. Merz seeks progress on EU-backed reforms Merz is accompanied on the visit by Economy Minister Katherina Reiche and an economic delegation including executives…