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Russia pounds Kyiv during German chancellor’s visit in a new escalation
NBC News • • world
Key Points:
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited Kyiv amid ongoing Russian air raids, marking a shift as previous high-level visits saw reduced Kremlin attacks on the city.
- Russia has intensified strikes on Kyiv, targeting key bridges and infrastructure to disrupt movement, with recent attacks occurring even during daylight and heavy traffic.
- Germany remains a strong supporter of Ukraine, providing military and financial aid, and recently pledged an additional $1.1 billion in military assistance during Merz’s visit.
- The escalated Russian attacks coincide with Ukraine’s successful strikes on Russian oil refineries, which have severely impacted Russia’s fuel supply, prompting Moscow to respond with “massive strikes” on Kyiv.
- Germany’s foreign intelligence chief warned of the risk of Germany becoming involved in a violent conflict with Russia as Moscow increases its hybrid warfare against European democracies.
