Ukraine war briefing: Germany’s Merz pledges €1bn in military aid to Kyiv as Russia ramps up attacks

The Associated Press reports that Merz announced a new aid package for Ukraine worth more than 1.3 billion euros ($1.5 billion)[2]. According to the AP, Merz said the military portion includes long-range strike weapons, combat drones and satellite technology, "so that Ukraine can also target Russian launch pads"[2].The AP also reports that Merz said Germany will fund the joint production of drones designed to intercept Russia's jet-powered drones[2]. Per the AP, Zelenskyy said Russia had launched 900 of them this week alone and Ukraine was able to intercept only around half.[2]The Guardian reports that Merz also announced €350m for repairs to the energy sector.[3] The Guardian adds that German officials said company executives who travelled with Merz had signed 14 agreements with Ukraine worth about €6.6bn.[3] The AP's figure is different: according to the AP, Zelenskyy said the two countries signed 15 agreements worth more than 8.5 billion euros ($9.6 billion)[2].According to The Guardian, a Russian drone hit Kyiv's key Northern Bridge over the Dnipro River, marking the fourth consecutive day that Russia has targeted bridges[3]. The Guardian also reports that a Russian airstrike hit Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-biggest city, killing one person and injured another six, mayor Ihor Terekhov said[3].The AP quotes Merz as saying at the National Academy of Sciences site that "These barbaric attacks on the civilian population of Ukraine must stop. These are daily war crimes"[2].The Guardian reports that Zelenskyy on Sunday said the US wanted to hold a new round of peace talks with Ukraine and Russia by the end of October[3].