Germany’s Friedrich Merz arrives in Kyiv to the sound of sirens and explosions

KYIV — The sound of air raid sirens and explosions rang out in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv on Sunday as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, pledging support for Ukraine and urging Russia to halt its ⁠escalating attacks.

Merz will announce a package of measures including the release of €1 billion ($1.13 billion) in military aid and €350 million for repairs in the energy sector, German government officials said. A deal for joint production of various kinds of drones is also due to be finalised.

The two leaders visited the badly damaged building of Ukraine’s Academy of Sciences, where at least two people died in a drone strike last week as Russia pounded ⁠the heart of Kyiv with some of the most persistent drone strikes ​since ⁠the start of the war in 2022.

“I can only repeat it once again from this point: Mr Putin, put an end to this senseless war,” Merz said.

“We are ready for talks, we are ready to discuss bringing this ⁠war to an end, but these barbaric attacks on the civilian population of Ukraine must stop,” he added.

Four air ​raid alerts ⁠were heard across the capital on Sunday morning, and ‌explosions and…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/world