German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for stopping Russia in its war against Ukraine, saying, “If Russia is not stopped, its war machine will sooner or later turn against us.”
Merz arrived in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv on Sunday on an unannounced visit in a show of support for the country in its war with Russia.
Kyiv is under increasing attack from Russian missiles and drones, which are targeting key infrastructure including the energy sector vital for power and heating as winter approaches.
A bridge in Kyiv was hit in a Russian attack, the city’s mayor Vitali Klitschko said, soon after the arrival of the German Chancellor. “Impact on the road surface of the Northern Bridge. Emergency services are heading to the scene,” the mayor wrote on Telegram. Air raid sirens had earlier blared, warning of drones approaching the city.
“I travelled to Kyiv today because Ukraine needs all our support in the coming weeks,” Merz said in a statement issued after his arrival.
Merz, whose country is among Ukraine’s largest supporters, has been joined on the trip by Economy Minister Katherina Reiche, according to government sources.
He was met off the train by Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, who said he would hold talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky “on all matters of our bilateral, European, and international agenda”. “Ukraine and Germany have built a strong strategic partnership, and we are determined to deepen it further,” he wrote on X.
Merz said in his statement that he would tell Ukraine’s leader: “You can continue to count on our help.” The statement also touted cooperation between German and Ukrainian companies.
The German chancellor earlier this week called for unity within NATO, Europe and his own country, where the far-right and Moscow-friendly AfD opposition is on the rise.
On Saturday, Russia warned foreigners and diplomats to leave Kyiv, saying “massive” new airstrikes would hit the city.
The Russian foreign ministry declared in a statement that “responsibility for any potential negative consequences rests entirely with those who ignore this warning”.
Moscow had issued a similar warning in May, but leaders from countries supporting Ukraine have defied the Russian warnings and continued to make visits.
Kyiv has faced heavy airstrikes and has repeatedly pleaded for additional air defense munitions to counter Russian drone and missile attacks.
In recent days, Russia has attacked several bridges across the Dnipro river that divides the city, causing traffic gridlock and transport disruption.
Likewise, Russia on Sunday said it would ramp up its pummelling of Ukraine after President Zelensky announced that Kyiv would increase its attacks on Russian oil refineries.
“Following Zelensky’s statement… strikes by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation on military and military-industrial facilities, as well as related infrastructure in Kyiv and other regions of Ukraine, will be intensified,” Russia’s Defense Ministry said in a statement. (AFP)
