Merz pledges new billion for Ukraine as domestic support wanes

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made a surprise visit to Ukraine, pledging a new aid package including one billion euros for military assistance and 350 million euros for the energy sector, amid growing domestic discontent over the costs. The package includes joint production of anti-jet drones, rockets with a range exceeding 1,000 kilometers, and satellite technology for target acquisition. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Germany as his country's largest supporter, while a Russian drone attack on a Kyiv bridge during the visit injured two people. Merz defended the aid as necessary for European political stability, but the support faces increasing criticism in Germany, where economic weakness and inflation are straining household budgets. The government's social spending cuts have intensified public debate over continued Ukraine funding.