Merz signs $1.5B arms deal in Kyiv as Russia escalates strikes on the capital

German Chancellor Merz signed a $1.5 billion deal in Kyiv as Russia escalated strikes on the capital's bridges and pledged further attacks.

• Germany and Ukraine signed a $1.5 billion agreement covering drone weapons and energy-sector support during Merz's visit to Kyiv.
• Air raid sirens sounded in Kyiv as a Russian strike damaged the Northern Bridge over the Dnieper, one of several bridges hit in recent days.
• The Russian Defense Ministry announced it will intensify strikes in response to Zelensky's pledge to increase attacks on Russian oil refineries.
• Zelensky announced the United States plans trilateral technical talks with Ukrainian and Russian representatives by late October.