# Merz pledges support in surprise Kyiv visit

> Germany's chancellor arrives in Ukraine under Russian fire to announce military and financial aid as winter threatens.
- Title: Merz pledges support in surprise Kyiv visit · POLITICO
- Summary: Germany's chancellor arrives in Ukraine under Russian fire to announce military and financial aid as winter threatens. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz…
- Keywords: friedrich merz, ukraine, germany, volodymyr zelenskyy, military aid, russia, war, politics, world, Merz, pledges, support
- Source: POLITICO — https://politico.eu/article/germany-friedrich-merz-visits-kyiv-amid-fears-of-hardest-winter-in-war
- Published: 2026-10-04T05:22:13+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: friedrich merz, ukraine, germany, volodymyr zelenskyy, military aid, russia, war, politics, world
## Merz arrives under fire
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made a surprise one-day visit to Kyiv to showcase Berlin's support for Ukraine. Russian attacks on the capital continued after his arrival, with air raid sirens sounding during the visit.
## One billion euros in weapons
Germany will provide Ukraine with a military support package worth about one billion euros, including missiles, drones, and satellite technology to help striking military targets in Russia.
## Power grid resilience funding
Berlin will provide three hundred fifty million euros for generators, substations, and repair kits to make Ukraine's power grid more resilient against Russian attacks on infrastructure.
## Filling the funding gap
Kyiv warned this week it is running out of funds to buy weapons, highlighting a twenty four billion euro defense funding gap. The European Union accelerated disbursement of a forty five billion euro loan in response.
## Winter will be hardest yet
Merz warned that in a few weeks the fifth winter of the war will begin, which will likely be the hardest one yet. Ukraine faces intense ballistic missile attacks and destroyed power plants and schools.

> in a few weeks, the fifth winter of the war will begin, which likely be the hardest one yet.
## Merz backs Ukraine, rejects Taurus
Merz told Zelenskyy Ukraine can count on German help, including new interception systems against jet drones. He has refused to supply Germany's Taurus cruise missiles despite calling for it as opposition leader.

> You can continue to count on our help.
## EU membership dispute
Merz has voiced skepticism that Ukraine can join the EU in coming years and proposed an associated membership granting access to the single market and observer status instead. Zelenskyy rejected this, saying Ukraine needs full and equal membership.
## Russia shows no peace interest
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Russia's leadership shows no real interest in ending the war and intends to continue fighting Ukraine, despite welcoming a U.S. invite for Vladimir Putin to the G twenty leaders summit in Miami in December.

> Russia's leadership shows no real interest in putting an end to its deeply inhumane fantasies of subjugation and conquest.
## Key takeaway

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited Kyiv to pledge one billion euros in military aid and three hundred fifty million euros for power infrastructure, as Ukraine braces for what officials warn will be the hardest winter of the war.