United News of Bangladesh

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv on Sunday to reaffirm Germany’s support for Ukraine as Russia steps up attacks on Ukrainian cities. The air war has intensified, with Russia targeting cities across Ukraine with ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones that are difficult to intercept. Ukraine, meanwhile, has been attacking Russian oil facilities and businesses. Merz said his visit, his second to Ukraine since becoming chancellor, was aimed at demonstrating Germany’s continued support for the country. “If Russia is not stopped, its war machine will sooner or later turn against us,” he said in a statement on Sunday, assuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Germany would continue to provide assistance. Merz also highlighted cooperation between the two countries, saying their partnership was not one-sided. He pointed to joint efforts by German and Ukrainian companies to develop technologies that benefit both sides. “This makes us safer and stronger,” he said. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said discussions would focus on strengthening Ukraine’s defence capabilities, resilience and shared European security. Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that Moscow would continue carrying out what it called “mass retaliatory strikes” on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. It also urged foreign nationals and diplomats to leave Ukraine, repeating a warning issued in May. A Russian drone struck Kyiv’s Northern Bridge over the Dnipro River again on Sunday morning. Videos circulating on social media showed the drone hitting the bridge and an explosion as vehicles crossed it. There was no immediate information about casualties. The latest attack followed Russian strikes earlier this week that forced the full or partial closure of three of Kyiv’s six road bridges over the Dnipro River, disrupting traffic and causing long queues. Russia has also targeted apartment buildings, supermarket warehouses, gas stations and data centres in previous attacks. Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than four and a half years ago, but there are still no clear signs of a possible peace agreement. Fighting along the roughly 1,250-kilometre front line stretching across northern, eastern and southern Ukraine has remained largely deadlocked in recent months.