Merz Visits Kyiv to Finalize Drone Deal and Announce $1.35 Billion in Aid
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv on Sunday with German defense industry CEOs to show support for Ukraine amid escalating Russian attacks, announcing €1 billion in military aid and €350 million for energy repairs. The visit aims to finalize a drone production deal, including anti-jet interceptors developed by Quantum Systems, and weapons with over 1,000 km range for deep strikes into Russia. Merz also plans to press Kyiv on EU-demanded anti-corruption reforms. Russia's Foreign Ministry warned against travel to Ukraine, vowing continued retaliatory strikes. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Kyiv would intensify attacks on Russian oil refineries in response to Moscow's strikes on civilian infrastructure.