Ukraine war: Merz sees Kyiv rubble left for him

During his visit to Kyiv on Sunday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was shown the aftermath of a Russian drone strike on the National Academy of Sciences, with debris deliberately left untouched for his inspection. Air raid sirens sounded as he and President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived, underscoring the ongoing threat. The strike, which occurred nearly a week ago, destroyed parts of two floors, killed two people, and injured seven others. Ukrainian officials normally clear such sites within hours but left this one intact to demonstrate the impact of Russia's continuous bombardment on the capital. Merz sought to reassure Zelensky about continued German support, citing domestic political factors. Notably, the visit highlighted a contrast: Russian forces paused attacks for American officials but not for the German chancellor.