Germany's Merz visits Kyiv as Russia steps up attacks on Ukrainian cities

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived successful Kyiv Sunday successful a amusement of enactment arsenic Russia intensifies its attacks connected Ukrainian cities.

The aerial warfare has intensified, with Moscow menacing cities crossed Ukraine with hard-to-intercept ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones, portion Kyiv has been striking Russia’s lipid manufacture and businesses.

Merz said helium traveled to Kyiv, his 2nd travel arsenic chancellor, to show Germany’s enactment for Ukraine.

“If Russia is not stopped, its warfare instrumentality volition sooner oregon aboriginal crook against us,” helium said successful a connection Sunday, adding that helium told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, “You tin proceed to number connected our help.”

Merz said the concern betwixt the 2 countries was “not a one-way street,” pointing to German and Ukrainian companies jointly processing technologies that payment some sides. “This makes america safer and stronger,” helium said.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the docket would absorption connected "strengthening Ukraine, our defence and resilience, and our shared European security.”

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Saturday it would proceed to transportation retired “mass retaliatory strikes” connected Kyiv and different Ukrainian ​cities, urging overseas nationals and diplomats to permission ‌the country. It antecedently issued a akin informing successful May.

A Russian drone deed Kyiv’s Northern Bridge implicit the Dnipro River again connected Sunday morning. Video circulating connected societal media showed the drone flying into the span and the detonation arsenic vehicles crossed. There was nary contiguous connection connected casualties.

The latest onslaught came aft Russian assaults forced the afloat oregon partial closure of 3 of Kyiv’s six roadworthy bridges implicit the Dnipro River earlier this week, suspending postulation and causing tailbacks successful Moscow’s latest effort to disrupt beingness successful the Ukrainian capital. Previously, Russia has deed flat blocks, supermarket warehouses, state stations and information centers, among different targets.

Russia invaded its neighbour much than 4½ years ago, and determination are nary factual signs that a bid colony mightiness beryllium possible. Fighting on the astir 1,250-kilometer (780-mile) beforehand enactment snaking done northern, eastbound and confederate Ukraine has been virtually deadlocked successful caller months.

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Dazio reported from Berlin and Morton from London.