In brief: During his visit to Berlin on Tuesday, Nov. 3, President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed energy support and €11.6 billion (about $13.4 billion) in planned 2027 aid with Bundestag President Julia Klöckner. He also held talks with Chancellor Friedrich Merz and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Merz promised Ukraine a winter support package, and the two leaders discussed new deliveries of PAC-2, PAC-3 and IRIS-T air defense missiles, as well as further support for Ukraine’s F-16 fighter jets.
During his visit to Berlin on Tuesday, Nov. 3, President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Bundestag President Julia Klöckner, who presides over Germany’s parliament, to discuss energy support and €11.6 billion ($13.4 billion) in Germany’s planned aid to Ukraine.
The talks were among several high-level meetings Zelensky held in the German capital, including with Chancellor Friedrich Merz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
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“We are doing everything possible to end the war as soon as possible, but we must be ready to defend Ukraine and our independence,” Zelensky said according to the Presidential Office, adding that Kyiv was counting on the funding decision to be adopted fully.
The funds are currently included in the German government’s draft budget for 2027, which the Bundestag is expected to vote on later this month.
The amount, if approved, would be slightly above Germany’s record €11.5 billion ($13.3 billion) in assistance for Ukraine this year.
Merz promises winter package
Earlier in the day, Merz assured Zelensky that Germany would provide Ukraine with a dedicated winter support package.
The announcement came as Ukraine continues facing near-daily Russian strikes on critical energy and civilian infrastructure, which authorities expect to intensify as winter sets in. Meanwhile, Russia has already begun targeting water supplies.
According to a separate Presidential Office readout, the German chancellor named air defense and energy as Kyiv’s two most urgent needs ahead of the heating season.
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“In this difficult time, Ukraine can count on Germany. We will continue to support it in full,” Merz said, as the two leaders also discussed deliveries of US-made PAC-2 and PAC-3 interceptor missiles, alongside IRIS-T missiles.
Zelensky thanked Germany for F-16 aircraft support, with a new package of such assistance on the agenda.
Peace efforts on agenda with Steinmeier
During his meeting with Steinmeier, Zelensky reiterated that Europe must remain part of Ukraine’s joint efforts with the US to bring peace closer.
He pointed to the talks in Brussels scheduled through Nov. 4-5, where teams from the US, NATO, Europe and Ukraine are set to meet, and to the upcoming trilateral meeting with the US and Russia in Abu Dhabi.
“We are preparing to meet in Abu Dhabi and work constructively. We need the same constructiveness from Russia,” Zelensky said.
Steinmeier was also briefed on the damage from today’s Russian strikes, which hit energy facilities in Kyiv and five other regions, including Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, Zhytomyr, Volyn and Cherkasy.
The two also discussed energy assistance for the Chernihiv region, which is under Steinmeier’s personal patronage according to the Presidential Office.
Germany under hybrid attacks
Meanwhile, Germany has faced increased hybrid warfare attacks on its territory in recent months.
On Sunday, Nov. 1, Germany’s Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger confirmed that the mobile phones of members of the Bundestag, and the federal government may have been targeted in a hacking attack.
Only a day after, Europe faced its second wave of cyberattacks with stores of at least 11 countries being affected.
The suspected attack on German officials comes amid a series of foreign campaigns, which has sharply intensified after an explosive-laden drone was discovered at Leipzig/Halle Airport earlier in August.
German authorities pinned the blame on Russia, triggering reciprocal consulate closures and a sharp deterioration in bilateral ties. Moscow, however, denies carrying out any sabotage operations in Europe.
Concerned about possible attacks aimed at personnel in Germany, the country’s armed forces raised the Russian sabotage threat to “significant” on Oct. 21.
After 30 years of focusing on hostage rescue and counter-terrorist operations, Germany’s Kommando Spezialkräfte (KSK, Special Operations Command) began preparing for a possible military confrontation with Russia on Oct. 29.
Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned in mid-October that Russia could escalate hybrid attacks, sabotage and provocations against Poland and the Baltic states before Christmas, citing particular risks to railway lines and supply routes to Ukraine.
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