Germany

Berlin, October 5, 2026. The German press first tells the story of a trip. Chancellor Friedrich Merz left Przemysl, Poland, on a special train for a nine-hour journey to Kiev that remained secret (Handelsblatt). He arrived on Sunday, October 4, the day after the Russian Foreign Ministry warned diplomats and foreign visitors. Deutsche Welle describes the trip as the "most dangerous" by a chancellor in a war zone since February 2022. The FAZ sees it as a sign: Merz ignored the Russian threat, and it's his second visit to Kiev as chancellor.

The story is based on specific scenes. The FAZ describes the rubble of the Academy of Sciences, which was hit a week earlier and where two civilians died. The debris was still there for the delegation. Sirens sounded during the visit. A Russian drone hit the Nord bridge, injuring two people, according to Tagesschau. Merz said, "Herr Putin, stop this senseless war!" He spoke of "terror" regarding the strikes on cities and power plants.

The figures are reported in a consistent manner. Tagesschau counts one billion euros in military aid and 350 million for energy. The military component includes jet-powered anti-drone drones, missiles with a range of over 1,000 kilometers, and satellite technology for targeting. Die ZEIT adds up 1.35 billion and 15 declarations of intent signed by companies. Merz was accompanied by Economy Minister Katherina Reiche and about a dozen leaders from the armaments and energy sectors. Tagesschau notes that the package must also "pay off" for Germany.

The justification speech is focused on national interest. Merz tells public television that this support is "necessary for the political stability of all of Europe" and that Germans have "the greatest interest" in it. According to DW, he warned that the Russian war machine would turn against Germany if Moscow is not stopped.

Domestic politics bursts into the account. According to Die ZEIT, Merz reassured Zelensky by talking about domestic politics, as concern grows in Ukraine about the consistency of German aid. He said he wants to do everything to maintain a stable government. He warned against a majority led by the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt and criticized Die Linke for its links to clan crime. The government still has to decide on reforms and the 2027 budget.