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KYIV — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made a surprise visit to Kyiv on Sunday, October 4, 2026, where he pledged more than 1.3 billion euros (about $1.46 billion) in new German aid for Ukraine — centred on building and deploying interceptor drones capable of shooting down Russia's fast, jet-powered attack drones. The announcement came as Russian drone strikes hit Kyiv during his visit, including a bridge over the Dnipro River, according to NHK and Channel News Asia, citing AFP.
What Germany pledged
At a joint news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Merz pledged more than 1.3 billion euros in new German aid — funds for procuring weapons and repairing energy facilities, plus production of new interceptor drones against Russian jet-powered drones, NHK reported.
CNA reported the breakdown: some 1 billion euros for weapons, including combat drones, while 350 million euros goes towards Ukraine's battered energy sector, which Russia is targeting to cut off heating and power during the freezing winter months.
Merz said the deal provides for the joint production of anti-jet drones. "Significant technical breakthroughs have already been achieved in this area in recent weeks," he said. "Production is now being ramped up. This strengthens Ukrainian air defence quickly and significantly. We are supplying standoff weapons, combat drones and satellite technology so that Ukraine can also target Russian launch sites."
"We will do everything we can to help Ukraine until this terrible war finally comes to an end," Merz said, repeating his call for Russia to engage in peace negotiations. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for Germany's support.
Interceptor drones: the weapon driving the deal
The bet on interceptor drones shows how much this war has changed. The Russian military has been increasing attacks using jet-powered drones, which are fast and difficult to shoot down. Ukraine says that in one week alone, the Russians launched more than 1,900 drones against Ukraine, and over 800 of them were jet-powered, NHK reported.
Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko has said the capital — largely spared from the devastation near the front line in more than four years of conflict — should now be on a war footing. Round-the-clock attacks have hit residential areas, petrol stations, schools, rail and communications infrastructure, while near-constant air raid sirens disrupt daily life.
Strikes during the visit
The visit turned into a live demonstration of the threat. On Sunday, a bridge on the Dnipro River was hit by Russian drones, NHK reported, and one blast damaged the road surface of the Northern Bridge — hit repeatedly over the past four days. Air raid sirens wailed repeatedly, including as Zelenskyy showed Merz the damage to the National Academy of Sciences, struck by a Russian drone days earlier. "We can see the entire pointlessness of this war at this place," Merz said. "These barbarous attacks on the civilian population of Ukraine must stop. These are war crimes that are being committed daily here."
On Saturday, Moscow had warned foreigners and diplomats to leave Kyiv, saying "massive" new airstrikes would hit the city. Merz told reporters he was unfazed. European Union ambassador Katarina Mathernova said the EU delegation was staying: "Threatening us will not stop Europe's support for Ukraine," she wrote, adding that it "only reminds us why that support matters."
Why it matters for the UK, Europe and the US
Merz framed the aid as European self-defence. "If Russia is not stopped, its war machine will sooner or later turn against us," he said on arrival. This was his second visit to Kyiv since he became chancellor in May 2025. One pressure is winter. Russia openly admits it's targeting Ukraine's energy sector, and last year similar attacks knocked out power and heating for days at minus 20 degrees. Merz said Berlin's winter support programme will help provide generators, transformer stations and grid repairs.
The other pressure is diplomacy. Formal negotiations have stalled, though Zelenskyy said on Sunday the US was proposing "technical level" talks with both Ukraine and Russia by the end of this month, possibly with UAE mediators. Anxiety is also rising across Europe — security topped voter concerns in this weekend's election in NATO member Latvia — and the economic fallout of the energy war is hitting British and American households, a thread we have tracked in our coverage of OPEC+ output decisions and the Gulf security realignment.
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What happens next
The first test is speed — whether the promised interceptor drones can be built and deployed before Russia's winter drone campaign peaks. The second is whether the US-proposed talks by the end of October gain traction. And the third is Kyiv's energy grid: if Russia repeats last year's deep-freeze attacks, the 350 million euros for repairs will face its first real test within weeks.
Key Takeaways
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited Kyiv on October 4, 2026, his second visit since becoming chancellor in May 2025.
- He pledged more than 1.3 billion euros in new aid: about 1 billion euros for weapons including combat drones, and 350 million euros for energy-sector repairs.
- The package centres on the joint production of interceptor drones to counter Russia's jet-powered attack drones — over 800 of which Ukraine says were launched in a single week.
- Russian drones hit a Dnipro bridge during the visit; air-raid sirens sounded repeatedly as Merz toured damage with Zelenskyy.
- Zelenskyy said Washington has proposed fresh "technical level" talks with Ukraine and Russia by the end of October, possibly with UAE mediators.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Friedrich Merz?
Friedrich Merz is the Chancellor of Germany, having taken office in May 2025. His October 4, 2026 trip was his second visit to Kyiv as chancellor, made as a show of European support for Ukraine amid escalating Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities.
What did Germany pledge to Ukraine during the October 4 visit?
Merz pledged more than 1.3 billion euros (about $1.46 billion) in new aid at a joint news conference with President Zelenskyy: roughly 1 billion euros for weapons including combat drones, and 350 million euros for repairing Ukraine's energy infrastructure, which Russia is targeting ahead of winter.
What are interceptor drones?
Interceptor drones are unmanned aircraft designed to hunt down and destroy enemy drones in flight. Germany and Ukraine plan to jointly produce anti-jet drones to counter Russia's fast, jet-powered attack drones, which are difficult targets for conventional air defences.
Why is Russia targeting Ukraine's energy grid?
Russia has admitted deliberately targeting Ukraine's energy sector to cut off heating and power during winter. Last year, similar attacks knocked out power and heating for days as temperatures fell to minus 20 degrees Celsius, putting millions of civilians at risk.
Did fighting continue during Merz's visit?
Yes. Russian drones hit a bridge over the Dnipro River on the day of the visit, air-raid sirens sounded repeatedly, and Merz toured the National Academy of Sciences, struck by a Russian drone days earlier. Moscow had warned foreigners to leave Kyiv the day before.
Are there any peace talks planned?
Formal talks have been at a standstill. However, Zelenskyy said on October 4 that the United States has proposed "technical level" talks with both Ukraine and Russia by the end of October, possibly including UAE mediators, and that Ukraine "responds positively to negotiations".
How will the €350 million help Ukraine's energy grid this winter?
The €350 million is earmarked for Ukraine's battered energy sector. It will fund generators, transformer stations and grid repairs as Russia deliberately targets energy infrastructure to cut off heating and power during the freezing winter — attacks that last year knocked out power and heating for days at minus 20 degrees.