German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on Sunday and called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop his "barbaric attacks" and end what he called a "senseless war."

Speaking alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the badly damaged building of Ukraine's Academy of Sciences, where at least two people died in a drone strike last week, 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. I can only repeat once ​again: Mr Putin, put an end to this senseless war."

Merz arrived in Kyiv by train early on Sunday morning, accompanied by German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche and a delegation of leading figures from German business, including executives from Siemens Energy, Hensoldt, Diehl Defense and Quantum Systems.

"If Russia is not stopped, it will turn its war machine against us sooner or later," Merz said upon arrival.

Air raid sirens blared across the Ukrainian capital throughout the morning, as Kyiv's mayor announced one of the city's bridges had been hit by a Russian drone. 

Zelenskyy condemned the attacks and said the capital was experiencing a "terrible situation" with "horrific days and nights." He labeled the Russian attackers "absolute barbarians" and said: "It is vital that Ukraine is not left alone in the face of this terror."

Focus on ramping up drone production

Merz pledged further military and energy assistance during his visit, with Zelenskyy announcing a German support package worth more than €1.3 billion ($1.5 billion).

The package includes €1 billion in military aid and €350 million for energy sector repairs ahead of winter.

Zelenskyy said the two countries had reached 15 agreements worth more than €8.5 billion ($9.6 billion), covering defense cooperation, production, procurement and joint projects in Ukraine.

According to German government sources cited by Reuters and the DPA news agency, the planned cooperation includes the development and delivery of thousands of interceptor drones capable of countering the fast, jet-powered drones Russia increasingly deploys against Ukrainian infrastructure.

The plans also envisage expanding production of long-range weapons capable of striking targets more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) away.

Merz emphasized that the partnership would also benefit Germany, with companies from both countries developing technology to strengthen their security.

"German and Ukrainian companies are jointly developing technologies that benefit both countries. That makes us safer and stronger," he said.

Russia strikes Kyiv bridge during Merz visit

The visit came just hours after the Russian Foreign Ministry warned foreign diplomats and other visitors to avoid the Ukrainian capital, and military and government buildings in particular.

"The responsibility for any negative consequences lies entirely with those who ignore this warning," read a statement, which claimed that Russian strikes were responses to "terrorist acts by the Ukrainian armed forces against our country's civilian infrastructure."

In recent days, Russia has attacked several bridges across the Dnipro river as well as energy infrastructure, and the city's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, on Friday said that Kyiv was in a "very dramatic situation."

Further strikes followed on Sunday during Merz's visit, with Klitschko confirming that a bridge had been struck.

"Impact on the road surface of the Northern Bridge. Emergency services are heading to the scene," the mayor wrote on the Telegram messaging service. 

But the German delegation was not deterred, with Merz saying upon arrival that "Ukraine will need all our support in the coming weeks" as winter approaches and Russian attacks intensify.

"A fifth winter of war is about to begin," he said. "Russia is bombarding cities, apartments and power stations. I will tell President Zelenskyy today: 'You can count on our help.'"

Merz: 'If Germany wavers, Ukraine wavers'

Merz's arrival in Kyiv marks the fourth such visit to Ukraine by a German chancellor since the full-scale Russian invasion began in February 2022.

His predecessor, Olaf Scholz, visited twice during his three-year tenure, while Merz himself first traveled to Kyiv in May 2025 – just four days after taking office. He was accompanied on that occasion by French President Emmanuel Macron, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and former British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Sunday's visit comes just days after Merz had assured Ukraine of Germany's support, despite isolated resistance and criticism at home.

"If we in Germany waver, Europe wavers," he said on Thursday after conferring the international Westphalian Peace Prize upon the NATO military alliance and its secretary general, Mark Rutte. "And if Europe wavers, Ukraine wavers."

Germany remains Ukraine's most important backer, both militarily and financially, but state elections in September saw significant gains for parties at both ends of the political spectrum who are critical of expenditure on Ukraine: the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and the socialist Left Party in Berlin.

In his speech on Thursday, Merz called out in particular "the AfD and their Russian backers" and promised Ukraine that Germany would not be divided.

Edited by: Zac Crellin, Natalie Muller

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