Germany has announced a new €1.35 billion support package for Ukraine as Chancellor Friedrich Merz visits Kyiv for talks focused on military assistance, air defence, energy resilience and deeper cooperation between German and Ukrainian defence industries.
German government officials said on October 4, 2026, that the package comprises €1 billion in military assistance and a further €350 million for repairs to Ukraine's damaged energy infrastructure.
The announcement comes as Ukraine prepares for another winter under sustained attacks on electricity, heating and other infrastructure.
Merz arrived in Kyiv by train on Sunday accompanied by Economy and Energy Minister Katherina Reiche and executives from German defence and energy companies. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha welcomed the delegation on arrival.
The €1.35 billion should be understood as a new package announced during the visit. Details of individual military systems financed from the €1 billion allocation have not yet been comprehensively published.
€1 Billion Is Earmarked for Military Support
The largest component is €1 billion in additional military assistance.
German officials have said the Kyiv visit will also focus on strengthening Ukraine's defences against increasingly sophisticated Russian drone attacks and accelerating cooperation on weapons production.
Reports citing German government sources say Berlin intends to support the delivery of large numbers of interceptor drones and efforts to accelerate production of longer-range weapons.
Those measures are connected to the wider defence agenda of Merz's visit, but the available announcement does not provide a detailed breakdown showing exactly how much of the €1 billion package is allocated to each programme.
Germany and Ukraine were already working on a broader bilateral Drone Deal before the visit.
On September 2, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office said the two governments were finalising the agreement and discussing a possible signing date. Ukraine said the arrangement was intended to expand defence capabilities for both countries.
The October visit is expected to advance or finalise parts of that cooperation.
€350 Million Will Support Energy Repairs
A further €350 million is intended for repairs to Ukraine's energy sector, according to German government officials.
The energy component comes after repeated attacks damaged generation, heating and transmission infrastructure.
Germany was already funding repairs and winter preparation before the latest package. The German government says its support includes reconstruction of electricity and heating systems, replacement equipment and assistance for damaged power plants.
Berlin had also previously increased its contribution to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund to €450 million and announced other emergency measures aimed at keeping electricity and heating available during periods of infrastructure damage.
The new €350 million therefore adds to an existing energy-support programme rather than establishing one from scratch.
Merz Arrives in Kyiv With Defence and Energy Executives
Merz's October 4 visit combines government talks with a substantial business and industrial component.
He travelled with Reiche and executives representing German defence and energy businesses, including companies involved in sensors, weapons systems, drones and electricity infrastructure.
The delegation reflects the growing emphasis on direct industrial cooperation between Germany and Ukraine.
In April, the two countries formalised a broader strategic partnership covering defence, energy, reconstruction and economic cooperation. During that meeting, Ukraine and Germany also discussed joint ventures involving several Ukrainian-developed drone systems.
Merz's latest visit is expected to build on those arrangements rather than replace them with an entirely new framework.
Drone Production Is a Major Focus
One of the most closely watched parts of the visit is a planned agreement on joint production of different types of drones.
Ukraine has developed a large domestic drone sector during the war, while Germany has sought to expand cooperation with Ukrainian manufacturers and integrate lessons from battlefield use into European defence production.
The two governments have also discussed anti-ballistic systems, interceptor drones and other air-defence technologies during previous meetings.
The latest talks come as faster jet-powered attack drones have created additional challenges for Ukrainian air defences.
Germany's interest in interceptor production is therefore connected to an immediate operational requirement, while joint manufacturing also forms part of a longer-term industrial partnership.
Any production volumes, delivery schedules or technical specifications not formally released should still be treated as planned rather than completed.
Energy Security Is Also Central to the Visit
The timing of the package places significant emphasis on Ukraine's ability to keep essential infrastructure operating through winter.
Merz said ahead of the visit that helping Ukraine strengthen air defence and prepare its energy system for winter were among Germany's immediate priorities. The German government has previously highlighted repairs to power infrastructure and more resilient energy networks as urgent areas of support.
Germany's approach combines direct financial assistance with involvement from private companies.
That is relevant because replacing damaged transformers, generation equipment and other specialised energy infrastructure can require both government financing and industrial manufacturing capacity.
Germany Has Provided Tens of Billions in Support
The €1.35 billion package sits within a much larger German assistance programme.
According to the German government's official support figures published in August, Germany had provided more than €43.3 billion in bilateral civilian assistance to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Berlin had also provided or earmarked approximately €57.6 billion in military support for current and future years.
Those categories cover different forms of assistance and should not simply be combined as cash transferred directly to the Ukrainian government.
Military support can include equipment, procurement commitments and funding scheduled for later delivery, while civilian support includes humanitarian, financial, infrastructure and other programmes.
For 2026 specifically, the German government increased planned military support to roughly €11.5 billion, following additional allocations.
Talks Extend Beyond the New Package
Merz is also meeting Zelenskyy against the background of broader discussions on Ukraine's security, economic reconstruction and European integration.
German officials have said Berlin continues to place importance on governance and anti-corruption reforms as Ukraine advances toward European Union membership.
That subject is separate from the immediate military and energy package.
Germany and Ukraine have also been expanding cooperation on reconstruction and private investment. At the Ukraine Recovery Conference in June, Merz highlighted infrastructure, energy, industry and logistics as priority areas for future investment.
The October visit therefore combines near-term wartime assistance with longer-term economic and industrial cooperation.
Why the Package Matters
The significance of the package lies partly in its timing.
Ukraine is facing continued pressure on air defence and energy infrastructure, while the approaching winter increases the importance of keeping electricity and heating systems operating.
The €1 billion military component adds resources for defence needs, while the €350 million energy allocation is directed toward repairing infrastructure that supports civilian and economic activity.
At the same time, the planned drone-production cooperation signals a shift toward helping Ukraine manufacture more equipment jointly with European partners instead of relying entirely on finished systems supplied from abroad.
That does not determine the course of the war, and the assistance does not guarantee specific military outcomes.
It does show that Germany is combining immediate financial support with longer-term defence-industrial and energy cooperation.
Conclusion
Germany's latest Ukraine package totals €1.35 billion, comprising €1 billion in military support and €350 million for energy-sector repairs, according to German government officials on October 4.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz travelled to Kyiv with Economy and Energy Minister Katherina Reiche and a German industrial delegation for talks with Ukrainian leaders focused on defence, drones, energy resilience and bilateral economic cooperation.
The visit is also expected to advance a German-Ukrainian agreement on joint drone production, building on negotiations that Ukraine's presidency confirmed were already nearing completion in September.
The new package adds to Germany's much broader support programme, which Berlin says includes more than €43.3 billion in bilateral civilian assistance and around €57.6 billion in military support already provided or earmarked since 2022.
The immediate focus, however, is narrower: strengthening Ukraine's military capabilities and helping repair energy infrastructure as the country enters another winter under continued attack.
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