German Chancellor Merz made an unannounced visit to Kyiv and pledged one billion euros in military assistance to Ukraine, according to Il Sole 24 ORE. During the trip, he promised additional weapons and said Ukraine requires Germany's full support, the paper reported.
Merz also warned that if Russia is not stopped, it will sooner or later turn against Germany and its allies, Il Sole 24 ORE reported. He said he traveled to the Ukrainian capital because the country needs all of Germany's backing, according to ANSA.
The visit coincided with Russian airstrikes on Kyiv, Il Fatto Quotidiano reported. The North Bridge was hit during the attacks, according to the same outlet. AGI described the trip as a surprise and reported that Merz brought news of fresh military aid.
The reporting offers few further details on the weapons package or on the extent of the damage from the strikes. The accounts from the Italian outlets agree on the central points: the chancellor's arrival was unexpected, the aid figure was put at one billion euros, and his public message tied Ukraine's defense directly to Germany's own future security.
What to watch next is whether Berlin releases specifics on the weapons included in the package and how Moscow responds to the chancellor's remarks.
