German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made an unannounced visit to Kyiv on 4 October 2026, accompanied by Economy Minister Katherina Reiche and representatives of German defence and energy companies. The trip is focused on strengthening military assistance, expanding joint weapons production and helping Ukraine repair critical energy infrastructure ahead of another winter of war.
The visit comes as Russia continues attacks on Ukrainian cities and energy facilities. It also highlights the political pressure facing Merz at home, where polling shows declining approval of the government and growing concern about the scale of Germany’s support for Ukraine.
Germany announces further support during Kyiv visit
Merz travelled to Kyiv by special train in a visit that had not been announced publicly in advance. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the chancellor, with discussions expected to cover military assistance, energy supplies and wider economic cooperation.
According to German government sources cited in the report, thousands of interceptor drones are expected to be delivered to Ukraine in the coming months. The systems are intended to help counter fast-moving Russian jet-powered drones, which can be difficult for air-defence forces to intercept.
Germany also plans to expand cooperation with Ukraine on the joint production of long-range weapons. Around €1 billion from funds already approved in the German budget is expected to be made available for this purpose. A further €350 million has been earmarked for repairing and rebuilding damaged Ukrainian power plants.
Key elements of the announced assistance
- Thousands of interceptor drones for Ukraine’s armed forces.
- Expanded joint development and production of long-range weapons.
- Approximately €1 billion from previously approved German budget funds for weapons cooperation.
- €350 million for the repair and reconstruction of damaged Ukrainian power plants.
- Closer links between German and Ukrainian defence and energy companies.
Merz calls for an end to attacks on Ukrainian civilians
Speaking after his arrival, Merz said Ukraine needed Germany’s support in the coming weeks as the country approached another winter during the war. He pointed to attacks on cities, homes and energy infrastructure as reasons for maintaining assistance.
The chancellor also addressed Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling for an end to the war and saying Germany was prepared for talks. At the same time, Merz argued that pressure on Russia must continue and said Moscow responded to what he described as strength.
The security situation remained tense during the visit. Russian authorities had warned foreign nationals and diplomats against travelling to Kyiv because of the risk of airstrikes. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said a road on the northern bridge over the Dnipro River had been hit by at least one Russian drone on Sunday morning.
Defence industry cooperation moves higher up the agenda
The delegation’s composition reflects Germany’s attempt to connect immediate military support with longer-term industrial cooperation. Representatives from defence and energy companies travelled with the chancellor as both countries prepared economic agreements and declarations of intent.
Reported plans include advancing an arrangement for the joint development and production of drones, particularly systems designed to respond to fast Russian drones. Such cooperation could give Ukraine access to additional production capacity while creating closer industrial links between the two countries.
For Germany, the approach also forms part of a broader effort to support Ukraine’s ability to defend itself and maintain essential infrastructure. The exact timing and delivery arrangements for the announced measures were not detailed in the source report.
Visit takes place amid pressure on Merz in Germany
The Kyiv trip comes at a difficult moment for Merz domestically. An INSA Sunday poll cited in the report placed the CDU/CSU alliance on 18%, down one percentage point and its lowest level in that poll to date. The AfD was recorded at 30%, creating a 12-point gap between the two groupings.
The SPD and Greens were each on 14%, while the Left Party stood at 10%. The FDP and BSW were both below the 5% threshold at 4%.
Approval ratings for the chancellor and federal government were also weak in the surveys:
- 15% said they were satisfied with Merz’s performance.
- 79% said they were dissatisfied with the chancellor.
- 14% approved of the federal government’s performance.
- 79% rated the government negatively.
INSA surveyed 1,202 people between 28 September and 2 October for its Sunday trend. The satisfaction figures came from a separate survey of 1,001 people conducted on 1 and 2 October. Poll results indicate public opinion at a particular moment and do not themselves determine government policy.
Public support for Ukraine faces growing pressure
The report also points to findings from an ARD-Deutschlandtrend poll conducted at the beginning of September. More than four in ten respondents nationwide said German support for Ukraine had gone too far, the highest level recorded on that question since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
The survey identified a clear east-west difference. More than half of respondents in eastern Germany believed German support had gone too far, while support remained stronger in western Germany and Berlin. However, scepticism was described as growing across the country.
That divide creates a complicated political backdrop for Merz. His government is signalling continued military and financial backing for Ukraine, while polling suggests that a significant part of the German public is increasingly concerned about the direction and scale of that policy.
What happens next?
The immediate next steps will involve translating the political announcements into delivery schedules, industrial agreements and infrastructure-repair projects. Germany and Ukraine are also expected to continue discussions on joint defence production and energy resilience.
The visit does not by itself create a new European Union decision or a new EU law. It is a bilateral German-Ukrainian initiative, although its consequences matter for European security, Ukraine’s defence and the wider debate over support for Kyiv.
Conclusion
Merz’s visit to Kyiv combines a pledge of further military assistance with plans for deeper defence-industry cooperation and €350 million for damaged Ukrainian power plants. It demonstrates Germany’s continued support for Ukraine, but the policy is being pursued amid declining approval for the chancellor and growing domestic scepticism about aid. The central test now is how quickly the promised drones, industrial projects and energy repairs can be put into effect.
