German Chancellor Merz arrived in Kyiv on Sunday, preparing to announce a new round of military and energy assistance for Ukraine and to push Germany and Ukraine toward finalizing joint production agreements for drones, missiles, and related software.

German government officials said the assistance package includes 1 billion euros in military support and 350 million euros for repairing Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

The visit comes as Russia intensifies attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.

Merz stated that Ukraine will continue to need sustained support in the coming weeks and will reaffirm Germany's commitment to Ukraine to President Zelensky.

Merz also brought German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche and a business delegation to Kyiv, including executives from companies such as Siemens Energy, Hensoldt, Diehl Defence, and Quantum Systems.

Germany hopes to further transform military assistance into longer-term industrial cooperation rather than relying solely on deliveries of finished weapons.

The most closely watched aspect of this visit is that Germany and Ukraine are preparing to further finalize joint production agreements.

Zelensky said earlier this month that the two countries are completing a drone cooperation agreement, which is expected to cover the joint development of multiple types of drones, missiles, and related software.

One key focus is rapidly expanding the production of interceptors against high-speed attack drones.

Quantum Systems had previously established a joint venture with Ukrainian manufacturer WIY Drones to produce Strila interceptor drones and related air defense technology.

Quantum Systems' related counter-drone technology has already completed testing, with the goal of helping Ukraine counter faster Russian attack drones.

Broader cooperation also includes the joint development and production of weapons with a range exceeding 1,000 kilometers.

This will further expand Ukraine's ability to carry out long-range strikes against targets inside Russia.

Germany and Ukraine have previously advanced multiple joint defense industry projects, including cooperation related to drones and air defense systems.

In the strategic partnership document published by the German government in April this year, projects such as the joint production of long-range attack drones were also listed.

For Germany, the significance of such cooperation is not only about increasing aid to Ukraine.

German officials believe that Ukraine's extensive battlefield experience in drones, air defense, and battlefield software can flow back into Germany's and Europe's defense industrial systems and help improve the ability of critical infrastructure to respond to drone threats.

The German government has also previously made clear that it hopes to integrate Ukraine's accumulated military technology experience into Europe's security system through German-Ukrainian joint ventures and joint production.

In addition to military cooperation, Merz is also expected to urge Ukraine to continue advancing reforms required by its EU partners, including anti-corruption measures.

Therefore, the focus of Merz's Kyiv trip is not only the additional 1.35 billion euros in aid, but also that Germany's model of support for Ukraine is further shifting from "providing funds and weapons" to "joint research and development, joint production, and industrial integration."

If the drone and long-range weapons agreements are ultimately implemented, German-Ukrainian defense cooperation will further enter a long-term industrialization phase.