German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv on an unannounced visit on Sunday and announced a military aid package worth more than one billion euros, aimed at joint drone production. Air raid sirens sounded in the Ukrainian capital as his arrival was being reported, and a Russian drone struck the Northern Bridge over the Dnieper, roughly five kilometres from the presidential office, injuring two people.
Speaking at a joint news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Merz said the money would be channelled into manufacturing interceptor drones built to take down jet-powered UAVs. A significant technological breakthrough had been achieved in this field over recent weeks, he said, and serial production is now being launched at speed.
– I brought concrete assistance today, another military aid package worth more than one billion euros. We are allocating these funds for the joint production of drones to counter jet-powered drones. In recent weeks we managed to achieve a major technological breakthrough in this area, and now we are rapidly starting their serial production – Merz said.
The chancellor added that Berlin would supply long-range weaponry, combat drones and satellite equipment so that Ukraine could hit Russian launch systems more effectively.
A winter package for the energy grid
Merz also declared that Germany will deliver roughly 350 million euros of energy-sector support to Ukraine before winter sets in. The funds are to cover generators, transformer stations and repair kits used to bring damaged infrastructure back into service.
He explained that the assistance is intended to blunt the impact of Russian strikes on the energy system and to carry Ukrainians through the coldest months.
The German chancellor went on to say that his country, together with France and the United Kingdom, plans to convene a meeting of the coalition of the willing in Berlin this winter, in part to coordinate further support for Kyiv.
Small missiles and F-16 ammunition
Zelensky stated that the results of work on using small missiles against jet-powered drones should emerge in the second half of October.
– Next are small missiles, a small missile programme. I will not talk about names now. There are several types. Most likely we will see the results this month. At the end, in the second half of this month – he said.
The Ukrainian president stressed that mass production would hinge on what those tests deliver.
– And if there are results, we will immediately be able to reach the appropriate scale of production – he added.
Zelensky reported that efforts are under way so that F-16 aircraft could fire between 5,000 and 6,000 rounds of 20 mm ammunition per day. The Ukrainian side contacted Warsaw and the Polish prime minister on Saturday, he noted, and talks with Donald Tusk and Emmanuel Macron were scheduled for the following day.
By the afternoon, sirens warning of Russian drone attacks had wailed four times in Kyiv. Merz and Zelensky visited the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, which a Russian drone hit the previous Monday, killing two people and wounding seven.
Zelensky thanked the chancellor in a social media post, praising his presence in the city despite the alert.
– We appreciate that Friedrich Merz was here with us today despite the air raid alert and the completely barbaric neighbours – the Russians, who have been attacking the city since the morning. This is a needed and brave signal from the chancellor himself and from all of Germany. Thank you, Friedrich – Zelensky wrote.
Źródło: Polsat News, Fot. Polsat News
