Merz assures Zelenskyy of continued German support amid Russia tensions

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Kyiv can count on sustained military and civilian assistance from Berlin, days after German authorities formally accused Moscow of directing a failed sabotage attack against a Ukrainian aircraft on German soil.

Bilateral coordination

During a telephone conversation, Merz briefed Zelenskyy on the investigation into the Aug. 4 incident at Leipzig Airport, where German officials concluded that Russia attempted to strike an Antonov cargo plane using a drone, government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said. "The chancellor emphasized that Ukraine can rely on the determined continuation of Germany's civilian and military support," Kornelius stated. Zelenskyy welcomed the ongoing backing and specifically highlighted the critical role of German-supplied air defense systems in shielding Ukrainian infrastructure, according to the spokesman.

Retaliatory measures

The conversation occurred against a backdrop of rapidly deteriorating relations between Berlin and Moscow, as German authorities announced sweeping punitive measures targeting Russian diplomatic and cultural assets on Tuesday. Berlin ordered the closure of Russia's Consulate General in Bonn and the Russian House cultural center in the capital, imposed tightened entry controls on Russian nationals, and backed fresh EU sanctions listings against individuals allegedly involved in "hybrid attacks," according to official statements.

Russian officials swiftly rejected the allegations and warned of reprisals. Ambassador Sergey Nechayev dismissed the Leipzig incident claims as "absurd" and "unproven," cautioning that Berlin's "unprecedented escalation" would not remain "without consequences." The diplomatic rupture follows Germany's formal attribution of the Aug. 4 attempted strike to Russian state actors.