Exclusive: Merz under Shahed threat: What Germany’s Chancellor brought to Kyiv and takes back to Berlin

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made a surprise, previously unannounced visit to Kyiv on Oct. 4, arriving by train and announcing a new support package worth more than 1.3 billion euros covering weapons, energy-sector funding, and anti-drone interceptor production. Germany and Ukraine also signed 15 separate agreements worth 8.5 billion euros covering security, weapons production, and procurement, plus a joint deal on countering drones.

Merz called on Putin to halt attacks on civilians, calling them war crimes, and said negotiations could only happen once fighting stops. He made the trip despite Russia's Foreign Ministry urging foreign nationals to leave Kyiv and threatening further strikes on the city.

Analysts quoted in the piece framed the visit as symbolic signaling to both Moscow and Washington that European support for Ukraine persists, while noting Merz faces low approval ratings at home after a local election defeat and criticism from opposition figures over the trip's timing.

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