German Chancellor Friedrich Merz makes unannounced visit to Kyiv

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv on Sunday on an unannounced visit to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to France 24 and Inbox.eu. France 24 reported that the visit was intended as a show of support for Ukraine following recent waves of Russian drone strikes targeting key infrastructure in the capital. [1][6][7][9]

According to reports from Investing.com and The Straits Times, the chancellor's trip focuses on finalizing a deal regarding drones and releasing a aid package. Investing.com reported that the aid package brought by Merz is worth 1.35 billion euros. [2][5]

Merz has served as the chancellor of Germany since May 2025 and has led the Christian Democratic Union party since 2022. Zelensky has served as the president of Ukraine since 2019, leading the nation through the ongoing conflict that began with the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022. [7][9]

The visit comes amid domestic political pressure in Germany. Reports from dw.com and Reddit's europe community noted growing political tensions, with dw.com reporting fears over the chancellor's coalition due to a reform row, and Reddit user posts citing rising support for the far-right AfD party. [3][4]