Chancellor Merz visits Kyiv and promises further military aid for Ukraine

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has arrived in Ukraine on a solidarity visit to promise the country further concrete help for the defense against Russia - especially interceptor drones and long-range weapons. “If Russia is not stopped, its war machine will sooner or later turn against us,” said the CDU leader upon his arrival in Kiev on a special train.

He will be accompanied by Economics Minister Katherina Reiche and ten entrepreneurs from the arms and energy sectors. According to government sources, Merz wants to assure the Ukrainian armed forces in Kiev that they will soon deliver thousands of interceptor drones with which they can combat the particularly fast and therefore particularly dangerous Russian jet-powered combat drones.

In addition, the production of long-range weapons should be pushed forward with which supply lines behind the front in Russia can be attacked. A total of one billion euros is to be released from already approved budget funds - and a further 350 million euros for the repair and reconstruction of destroyed power plants.

Moscow calls on foreigners to leave Kiev

It is probably the most dangerous trip by a Federal Chancellor to the war zone since the Russian invasion in February 2022. The security situation in Ukraine has deteriorated massively in recent months. Drone attacks are increasing - including in the capital Kyiv and on passenger trains.

Just a few hours before the arrival of the Chancellor's train, the Russian Foreign Ministry warned foreign visitors and diplomats against staying in Kiev. They should leave the city and, above all, stay away from military objects and government buildings, it said in a statement.

The reason given by the ministry was that the Russian armed forces “continue to systematically carry out targeted strikes against military targets in Kiev and other Ukrainian cities in response to the terrorist actions of the Ukrainian armed forces against the civilian population and civilian infrastructure of our country (Russia).

“You can continue to count on our help”

Merz did not let this dissuade her from travel plans. He traveled to Kiev “because Ukraine needs all our support for the coming weeks,” he said upon his arrival. «The fifth winter of war will soon begin for people. “Russia is bombing cities, residential buildings and thermal power plants.” But the Ukrainians did not let Russia's terror get them down. “I will say to President Zelensky today: “You can continue to count on our help.”»

In a keynote speech on Thursday, Merz had already assured Ukraine of Germany's continued solidarity in the defensive fight against Russia - despite all the resistance to further billions in aid in his own country. “If we falter in Germany, then Europe falters. If Europe falters, then Ukraine also falters," he warned at the awarding of the Westphalian Peace Prize to NATO in Münster.

The promise to continue to stand firmly by Ukraine's side should now be reinforced with the visit to Kiev. Germany is Ukraine's most important supporter financially and militarily. But there is growing resistance to the billions in aid. The AfD, the Left and the BSW are campaigning on the topic, which Merz also addressed in his speech in Münster. He spoke of “slogans from the AfD and its Russian backers”. He promised the Ukrainians that Germany would not allow itself to be divided.

Fourth Chancellor's visit since the beginning of the war

It is the fourth visit by a Federal Chancellor since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Merz's predecessor Olaf Scholz (SPD) was in the war zone twice during his three and a half year term in office. Merz visited Kiev last May just four days after being sworn in as Chancellor in the Bundestag - together with French President Emmanuel Macron, then British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

It was the first major joint diplomatic initiative by the Europeans to bring about peace in Ukraine. From Kiev, the four heads of state and government ultimately called on Russia to an unconditional ceasefire. Nothing came of this, and later diplomatic initiatives initially came to nothing.

First contact with Moscow was sobering

Merz now hopes to use sustained military pressure to persuade Russia to come to the negotiating table. A few days ago, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul got in touch with Moscow again for the first time in years and met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in New York. But the result was sobering. Lavrov then spoke disparagingly about the conversation, saying it had brought nothing new.

Merz saw this as further evidence that diplomatic efforts in Moscow are falling on deaf ears. Russia only understands the “language of strength” and must be brought to the negotiating table in this way, he said. “Unity and strength are still conditions for success in negotiations with Moscow today.”