Ukraine War04 October, 20262 min read
Friedrich Merz Arrives in Kyiv as Russia Strikes Northern Bridge, Pledges €1 Billion Aid
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Merz arrives in Kyiv on surprise visit to reaffirm German support for Ukraine. Russian strike hits Kyiv's Northern Bridge during visit, injuring two and damaging infrastructure.
20 outlets told this the same way.
Outlets did split on Russian Attack Kills At Least 33 On Two Buses In Kramatorsk →
Merz in Kyiv as strikes hit
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv on Sunday as air-raid sirens and explosions sounded across the capital during a Russian strike campaign targeting infrastructure. Merz pledged to announce a package of measures including €1 billion in military aid and €350 million for repairs in the energy sector, and Reuters reported that four air raid alerts were heard across Kyiv on Sunday morning.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said a strike damaged the roadway of the Northern Bridge, and Reuters reported that the strike injured two people and damaged a hot water supply system in the area. Merz urged Vladimir Putin to stop the war, saying, "Mr Putin, put an end to this senseless war," and Merz added, "We are ready for talks, we are ready to discuss bringing this war to an end."
Zelensky, EU reforms, and drones
Volodymyr Zelenskiy thanked Merz for the visit and said important agreements between Ukraine and Germany would be concluded, while Zelenskiy also said a depot of medicines was hit and "Unfortunately, one person died as a result." Zelenskiy said Russia used more than 1,900 attack drones, 1,700 glide bombs, and 25 missiles over the past week, and he described the main targets as "ordinary residential buildings, critical infrastructure, and everything that constitutes everyday life."
Reuters reported that Merz was accompanied by Economy Minister Katherina Reiche and an economic delegation including executives from Siemens Energy, Hensoldt, Diehl Defence, and Quantum Systems. Reuters also said a deal for joint production of various kinds of drones was due to be finalised, and it reported that the agreement would include joint development and production of weapons with a range of more than 1,000 km.
Russia warns, winter fears
Russia’s Foreign Ministry warned it would continue carrying out "massive retaliatory attacks" against Kyiv and other cities, and it urged foreign nationals and diplomatic staff to leave the country. The Guardian said Russia’s drone strike on the Northern Bridge marked the fourth consecutive day that Russia targeted bridges used by residents commuting between the city’s two banks, and it reported that two people were injured in the strike.
The Guardian reported that repeated attacks and the threat of further strikes prompted Kyiv authorities to restrict or suspend traffic on five of the city’s six road bridges over the Dnipro, causing temporary closures and large traffic jams. Merz told Kyiv that Ukraine "needs all our support in the coming weeks," and Merz said, "If Russia is not stopped, its war machine will sooner or later turn against us."