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KYIV: Germany\u2019s Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv on Sunday, accompanied by CEOs from German defence companies, in a show of support for President Volodymyr Zelenskiy amid escalating Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities. Merz will announce a package of measures that includes the release \u20ac1 billion in military aid and \u20ac350 million for repairs in the energy sector, German government officials said. The visit is also expected to finalize a deal for joint production of various kinds of drones.<\/p>\n
\u201cI travelled to Kyiv today because Ukraine needs all our support in the coming weeks,\u201d Merz said, saying that Russian forces were bombing towns, residential buildings and heating plants. \u201cIf Russia is not stopped, sooner \u200cor later its \u200cwar machine will turn against us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI will tell President Zelenskiy \u200ctoday: \u2018You can continue to count on our help,\u2019\u201d Merz added.<\/p>\n
The German chancellor is accompanied by Minister for Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche and an economic delegation including executives from Siemens Energy, Hensoldt, Diehl Defence, Quantum Systems and other firms.<\/p>\n
Merz is also expected to press the Ukrainian government for progress on reforms requested by EU partners, including in the fight against corruption.<\/p>\n
Zelenskiy said on Wednesday, after speaking to Merz by phone, that Ukraine would soon finalise the deal with Germany for the production of drones, missiles and related \u200csoftware. A key focus is expected to be \u200cthe rapid production of anti-jet drones, which Quantum, a German defence-technology company, has successfully tested. Since \u200cthe summer, Russia has used dozens of high-speed jet attack drones daily to \u200ctarget civilian and military infrastructure.<\/p>\n
In April, Quantum and Ukrainian manufacturer WIY Drones announced the creation of Quantum WIY Industries, a joint venture to produce the Strila interceptor drone and related air-defence technologies.<\/p>\n
The deal also involves the joint development and production of weapons with a range of more \u200cthan 1,000 km (600 miles) that Ukraine can use to launch attacks deep inside Russia. Government officials said the increased cooperation would allow money and technology to flow back to the Federal Republic, where weapons are produced and defences against drones targeting critical infrastructure can be strengthened.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, Merz said Germany would not be intimidated by the rising number of hybrid attacks by Russia on European states.<\/p>\n
Russia\u2019s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday that Moscow would continue to systematically hit targets in Ukraine in what it said were retaliatory strikes for Ukrainian attacks on Russia in recent months. It warned foreign nationals and diplomatic staff against staying in or travelling to Ukraine.<\/p>\n
Zelenskiy told Reuters on Saturday his country\u2019s armed forces would double down on their attacks on oil refineries in Russia in response to Moscow\u2019s \u201cnew doctrine\u201d of escalating attacks on civilian infrastructure, which he said was aimed at forcing residents of Kyiv and other cities to flee.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n