Merz visits Kyiv as Russia intensifies attacks

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv on Sunday to show support for Ukraine as Russia intensified aerial attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, The Korea Times reported.

The visit underscored Germany’s role in backing Ukraine more than 4½ years after Russia’s invasion, with fighting along a roughly 1,250-kilometer front line largely stalled in recent months.

The Korea Times reported that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made his second trip to Kyiv as chancellor on Sunday, meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as Russia stepped up attacks using ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones.

"If Russia is not stopped, its war machine will sooner or later turn against us," Merz said in a statement Sunday, according to The Korea Times. He said he told Zelenskyy, "You can continue to count on our help."

Merz said the relationship between Germany and Ukraine was "not a one-way street," The Korea Times reported. "This makes us safer and stronger," Merz said.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the agenda would focus on "strengthening Ukraine, our defense and resilience, and our shared European security." The Korea Times reported that Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Saturday it would continue "mass retaliatory strikes" on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.

A Russian drone hit Kyiv’s Northern Bridge over the Dnipro River on Sunday morning, according to The Korea Times. Earlier Russian assaults had forced the full or partial closure of three of Kyiv’s six road bridges over the river.

The Korea Times reported that Kyiv has also struck Russia’s oil industry and businesses as both sides continue the war with no recent breakthrough along the front line.