German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called on Vladimir Putin to immediately halt attacks on civilians and end Russia’s war against Ukraine during a visit to Kyiv.
Speaking near the damaged National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Merz urged Putin to stop the fighting and move towards negotiations.
“Mr Putin, stop this senseless war. We are ready for negotiations, we are ready to talk to each other about how to bring this war to an end. But these barbaric attacks on Ukraine’s civilian population must stop,” Merz said.
The German chancellor said any meaningful negotiations could only take place once such attacks had ended. He also described Russia’s systematic strikes on civilian targets and infrastructure in Ukraine as war crimes.
Merz visited the National Academy of Sciences together with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The academy building was struck by a Russian drone, sparking a fire that destroyed two floors of the historic building. One woman was killed and six people were injured in the attack.
The visit took place amid the continuing threat of Russian strikes. Air raid sirens sounded several times during the German delegation’s stay in the Ukrainian capital due to the threat of enemy drones.
Merz also highlighted Russia’s continued attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure ahead of the winter season, saying strikes were being carried out on a daily basis and were directly affecting civilians. He reiterated Germany’s demand for an immediate end to Russian aggression.
Merz arrived in Kyiv on October 4 for an unannounced visit, his first trip to the Ukrainian capital as German chancellor.
During the visit, he inspected damage caused by Russian strikes and held talks with Zelenskyy. According to media reports, the agenda included a new aid package for Ukraine and plans to expand joint weapons production, including an agreement on the production of drones.
