Germany deepens Ukraine support with Merz Kyiv visit and business delegation

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Germany deepens Ukraine support

Highlights

Chancellor Merz visits Kyiv with economy minister and business leaders to reinforce military aid and push for institutional reforms benefiting German interests.
Germany becomes Ukraine's largest military donor since May 2025, committing about 10 billion euros annually as U.S. support declines.
Merz faces mounting domestic political risk as Germany relaxes its debt brake and opposition parties gain electoral ground amid strong resistance to arming Ukraine.

Kyiv visit highlights security and investment message

As reported by Financial Times, Merz arrives in Kyiv early on Sunday by train alongside economy minister Katherina Reiche and corporate executives, underscoring Berlin's effort to pair wartime support with longer-term economic engagement. In a post on X after arriving, Merz says Ukraine is facing decisive weeks and that Germany's own security depends on the outcome of the war.

The visit is Merz's second trip to Ukraine since becoming chancellor, following a May 2025 visit with the leaders of France, the UK and Poland. Since he took office that month, Germany has become the largest donor of military aid to Ukraine, replacing the U.S., which has scaled back its support.

Berlin is also presenting that backing as mutually beneficial. People familiar with Merz's plans say he needs to show domestic audiences that German support brings a return, while also pressing Kyiv to reform institutions, fight corruption and buy German weapons.

Rising Russian pressure and domestic political risks

The visit takes place as the security environment worsens sharply. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says intelligence gathered by Ukrainian spy agencies indicates Russia is preparing to intensify air attacks on the country's largest cities to isolate them as winter approaches.

On Friday and Saturday, Russian drones attack two of Kyiv's main bridges across the Dnipro River, injuring several people and damaging the structures. Russia's foreign ministry also warns foreign nationals and diplomatic personnel against staying in or travelling to Ukraine, saying any adverse consequences would be their own responsibility.

Merz and other European leaders are increasingly warning about what they describe as Russia's hybrid war on European soil. Last month Germany officially accuses Moscow of orchestrating a potential attack at Leipzig Halle airport, a logistics hub for western military aid to Ukraine, after an employee detects an explosive-laden drone, and Merz says the incident points to Russia's desperation and the risk of more severe attacks.

At home, however, the chancellor faces mounting political strain. He has relaxed Germany's constitutional debt brake to fund a major rearmament drive and secure about 10 billion euros in annual aid for Ukraine in coming years, but his Christian Democratic Union suffers heavy electoral losses last month while both the far-right Alternative for Germany and the far-left Die Linke gain ground in contests where opposition to arming Kyiv remains strong.

In our earlier coverage of Ukraine’s planned strikes on Russian oil refineries, we explained Kyiv’s response to Moscow’s widening winter air campaign targeting cities and critical infrastructure. The report highlighted Zelenskyy’s warning about intensified attacks around Kyiv — including pressure on key crossings over the Dnipro — alongside Ukraine’s efforts to shore up air defenses and close a major defense-budget gap with external financing.

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