German Chancellor Friedrich Merz used a visit to Kyiv on Sunday to call on Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop what he described as a senseless war, according to WELT. The appeal came as drones struck the Ukrainian capital during his trip.
WELT reported that Merz directed his message at Putin while the attacks were underway. BILD reported that a bridge in the city was hit during the drone strikes.
During the same visit, Merz announced one billion euros in military assistance for Ukraine, according to tagesschau.de. The funding commitment was made public as part of his trip to the country.
Merz also addressed the broader stakes for Europe. According to n-tv.de, he said that a failure of the Ukrainian government would have "unmeasurable consequences."
The visit and the aid pledge come amid continued Russian drone attacks on Ukrainian cities. The strikes on Kyiv coincided with Merz's presence in the capital, underscoring the ongoing security situation on the ground.
What to watch next: whether the announced military aid package moves forward and how Russia responds to Merz's public appeal.
