STORY: Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv on Sunday (October 4), accompanied by CEOs from German defence companies, in a show of support for President Volodymyr Zelenskiy amid escalating Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities.

"I travelled to Kyiv today because Ukraine needs all our support in the coming weeks," Merz said in a written statement, saying that Russian forces were bombings towns, residential buildings and heating plants. "If Russia is not stopped, sooner or later its war machine will turn against us."

"I will tell President Zelenskyy today: 'You can continue to count on our help,'" Merz added.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: KYIV, UKRAINE (OCTOBER 4, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. TRAIN CARRYING GERMAN CHANCELLOR, FRIEDRICH MERZ, ARRIVING AT MAIN TRAIN STATION

2. MERZ LEAVING TRAIN, GREETED BY UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ANDRII SYBIHA AND GERMAN AMBASSADOR TO UKRAINE, BORIS RUGE

3. MERZ TALKING TO GERMAN OFFICIALS

4. VARIOUS OF MERZ AND SYBIHA WALKING, MERZ ENTERING VEHICLE

5. VEHICLE

6. SIGN AT KYIV TRAIN STATION READING (German): "Warm Welcome"