Merz pledges €1.3B in aid and joint drone production during surprise Kyiv visit amid Russian strikes
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv on Sunday for an unannounced visit, pledging €1 billion in military aid and €350 million for energy repairs. The visit, marked by Russian drone strikes on a key bridge, focused on expanding joint production of long-range weapons and interceptor drones. Merz urged Russia to halt attacks while facing domestic political pressure over continued support for Ukraine.