Germany's Merz visits Kyiv to pledge more support to Zelensky
France 24
F
France 24
Original Source
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv on an unannounced visit to demonstrate Berlin's support for Ukraine amid intensifying Russian airstrikes. Russian forces targeted Kyiv's Northern Bridge shortly after Merz's arrival, as Moscow warned foreign diplomats to leave the capital ahead of massive new air operations.
04/10/2026 - 13:35
Zelensky meets with Germany's Merz at Kyiv Russian drone strike site
04/10/2026 - 12:12
Russia to intensify strikes on Ukraine after Zelensky remarks, defence ministry says
Russia said it would ramp up its pummelling of Ukraine after President Volodymyr 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 defence ministry said in a statement.
04/10/2026 - 12:11
04/10/2026 - 12:10
04/10/2026 - 12:10
Russian strikes hit Kyiv Northern bridge as Germany's Merz visits
Moscow has once again bombed one of Kyiv’s bridges, despite the presence of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Ukrainian capital. The visit was unplanned, but Merz says it was intended to show Germany’s support for Ukraine.
FRANCE 24's correspondent Gulliver Cragg, reporting from Kyiv, says traffic has resumed on the bridge, though slowly. Video shows a large hole in the roadway. Experts say the bridges are extremely solid and difficult to destroy, even with ballistic missiles.
04/10/2026 - 11:50
Three injured after drone debris triggers fire at Krasnodar industrial site, authorities say
A fire broke out at an industrial site in Russia's Krasnodar region after falling drone debris struck the site in the Temryuk district, regional authorities said.
Three people were injured and were receiving medical treatment, while emergency services were working at the scene.
04/10/2026 - 11:33
Germany's Merz in Kyiv as Russia steps up attacks on Ukrainian cities
German Chancellor Friedrich 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. Merz's visit comes just a day after Russia warned foreigners and diplomats to leave the Ukrainian capital, saying that "massive" new air strikes would hit the city.
FRANCE 24's correspondent in Kyiv Gulliver Cragg has more.
04/10/2026 - 10:53
Latvian PM on track to lead pro-Ukraine coalition after election win
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs was set to retain power and form a pro-Ukrainian coalition after his centrist United List secured the biggest parliamentary election victory since Latvia regained independence in 1991.
With 97 percent of ballots counted after Saturday's election in the NATO and European Union country bordering Russia, United List was on 35.3 percent, enough for 42 seats in the 100-seat parliament.
Kulbergs, 47, came to power in May after the previous coalition crumbled over its handling of incidents in which stray Ukrainian military drones flew undetected into Latvia.
04/10/2026 - 10:52
Russia strikes hit Kyiv soon after Merz's arrival
A bridge in Kyiv was hit in a Russian attack, the city's mayor Vitali Klitschko said, soon after the arrival of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
"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.
04/10/2026 - 10:51
Germany's Merz in Kyiv to hold talks with Zelensky
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Chancellor Friedrich Merz would hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Writing on X, Sybiha said the agenda would focus on "strengthening Ukraine, our defense and resilience, and our shared European security”.
04/10/2026 - 10:49
Germany's Merz arrives in Kyiv as Russia steps up attacks on Ukrainian cities
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv in a show of support as Russia intensifies its attacks on Ukrainian cities.
The aerial war has intensified, with Moscow menacing cities across Ukraine with hard-to-intercept ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones, while Kyiv has been striking Russia’s oil industry and businesses
“Ukraine is facing decisive weeks. That is why I traveled to Kyiv today with the message: You can rely on us,” Merz wrote on X, noting that Germany’s own security “also depends on the outcome of this war".
Zelensky meets with Germany's Merz at Kyiv Russian drone strike site
04/10/2026 - 12:12
Russia to intensify strikes on Ukraine after Zelensky remarks, defence ministry says
Russia said it would ramp up its pummelling of Ukraine after President Volodymyr 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 defence ministry said in a statement.
04/10/2026 - 12:11
04/10/2026 - 12:10
04/10/2026 - 12:10
Russian strikes hit Kyiv Northern bridge as Germany's Merz visits
Moscow has once again bombed one of Kyiv’s bridges, despite the presence of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Ukrainian capital. The visit was unplanned, but Merz says it was intended to show Germany’s support for Ukraine.
FRANCE 24's correspondent Gulliver Cragg, reporting from Kyiv, says traffic has resumed on the bridge, though slowly. Video shows a large hole in the roadway. Experts say the bridges are extremely solid and difficult to destroy, even with ballistic missiles.
04/10/2026 - 11:50
Three injured after drone debris triggers fire at Krasnodar industrial site, authorities say
A fire broke out at an industrial site in Russia's Krasnodar region after falling drone debris struck the site in the Temryuk district, regional authorities said.
Three people were injured and were receiving medical treatment, while emergency services were working at the scene.
04/10/2026 - 11:33
Germany's Merz in Kyiv as Russia steps up attacks on Ukrainian cities
German Chancellor Friedrich 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. Merz's visit comes just a day after Russia warned foreigners and diplomats to leave the Ukrainian capital, saying that "massive" new air strikes would hit the city.
FRANCE 24's correspondent in Kyiv Gulliver Cragg has more.
04/10/2026 - 10:53
Latvian PM on track to lead pro-Ukraine coalition after election win
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs was set to retain power and form a pro-Ukrainian coalition after his centrist United List secured the biggest parliamentary election victory since Latvia regained independence in 1991.
With 97 percent of ballots counted after Saturday's election in the NATO and European Union country bordering Russia, United List was on 35.3 percent, enough for 42 seats in the 100-seat parliament.
Kulbergs, 47, came to power in May after the previous coalition crumbled over its handling of incidents in which stray Ukrainian military drones flew undetected into Latvia.
04/10/2026 - 10:52
Russia strikes hit Kyiv soon after Merz's arrival
A bridge in Kyiv was hit in a Russian attack, the city's mayor Vitali Klitschko said, soon after the arrival of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
"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.
04/10/2026 - 10:51
Germany's Merz in Kyiv to hold talks with Zelensky
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Chancellor Friedrich Merz would hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Writing on X, Sybiha said the agenda would focus on "strengthening Ukraine, our defense and resilience, and our shared European security”.
04/10/2026 - 10:49
Germany's Merz arrives in Kyiv as Russia steps up attacks on Ukrainian cities
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv in a show of support as Russia intensifies its attacks on Ukrainian cities.
The aerial war has intensified, with Moscow menacing cities across Ukraine with hard-to-intercept ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones, while Kyiv has been striking Russia’s oil industry and businesses
“Ukraine is facing decisive weeks. That is why I traveled to Kyiv today with the message: You can rely on us,” Merz wrote on X, noting that Germany’s own security “also depends on the outcome of this war".
🔗 Share Article
Tags:#ألمانيا#أوكرانيا#مرتس#كييف#روسيا#الحرب
Source: France 24
For Context
Related reads from the same topic or latest developments
Same context
Houthis claim strike on Saudi energy facility as Yemen fighting intensifies
Follow-up
Russia strikes Kyiv bridge in a new tactic to disrupt life in the Ukrainian capital
Follow-up