Merz visits Kyiv as Russian strikes continue, Germany and Ukraine sign weapons deal
publishers 23articles 24first reported 4 Oct, 04:53 UTCdeveloping since 4 Oct · 8 editions
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made an unannounced visit to Kyiv on Sunday as Russian attacks and repeated air raid sirens disrupted the Ukrainian capital.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accompanied Merz to the National Academy of Sciences, a 19th-century building damaged in a Russian drone strike on Monday that killed two people. Merz condemned what he called “barbarous attacks” on Ukrainian civilians and said they must stop.
A blast heard across Kyiv during the visit damaged the road surface of the Northern Bridge, one of several crossings over the Dnipro River. The attack came amid intensified strikes on residential areas and transport, energy and communications infrastructure. Russia had warned foreigners and diplomats a day earlier to leave Kyiv ahead of what it described as “massive” new airstrikes, according to France 24.
Ukraine and Germany also signed a $1.5 billion weapons agreement covering combat-drone systems and support for Ukraine’s energy sector, Zelenskyy said. Merz said continued assistance to Ukraine was necessary for European security.
Germany has provided Ukraine with more than €43.3 billion ($48.8 billion) in aid, equipment and weapons since the war began, according to The Guardian. Zelenskyy thanked Merz for Germany’s support and said the two governments were preparing further decisions intended to strengthen protection for Ukraine and Europe.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 7 articles, 2 with the publisher's own text; 7 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 12 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 23
- Source articles
- 24
- Given to the writer
- 7, 2 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 7
- This version written
- 12 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →