Germany's Merz arrives in Kyiv to finalise drone deal and release frozen aid to Ukraine

From the Newshound archive · first published 4 October 2026.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has touched down in Kyiv in a show of solidarity with Ukraine, with the visit aimed at locking in a drone supply agreement and unlocking aid that has been held up. The trip signals Berlin's continued commitment to Kyiv as the war grinds on. No details of the drone deal's scale or the aid sum have yet been confirmed by sources.

The visit comes as European leaders face pressure to sustain military and financial support for Ukraine independently of Washington.

Finalising a drone deal would mark a significant step in Germany's direct military hardware contribution to the Ukrainian war effort.

Merz's arrival in Kyiv is unannounced in advance — a standard security precaution for wartime visits to the Ukrainian capital.