Zelensky in Berlin as Germany prepares €200 million aid for Ukraine
Meeting with Chancellor Friedrich Merz comes ahead of Abu Dhabi peace talks; funds aimed at power plants and civilian infrastructure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Berlin on November 3, 2026, for talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz as Germany prepares an additional €200 million aid package for Ukraine ahead of winter and the next round of peace negotiations.
German governing parties CDU/CSU and SPD are said to be planning the package to help Ukraine cope with the consequences of Russian strikes on its energy infrastructure. The funds would be split into two equal tranches of €100 million: one channelled through the Federal Foreign Office and the other through the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Allocation and parliamentary steps
The coalition partners intend to submit a request for additional budgetary expenditures to the Bundestag, with the proposal expected to be reviewed by the Bundestag Budget Committee next week. The announced money is intended to support Ukrainian power plants and other civilian infrastructure that have repeatedly been targeted in recent attacks.
Zelensky’s visit was not publicly announced beforehand for security reasons; Chancellor Merz confirmed the meeting during an address to representatives of the business community in Berlin. Zelensky said the main topics in the German capital would include diplomatic coordination, strengthening Ukraine’s air defence, and support for the energy sector.
During the Berlin visit Zelensky is also scheduled to meet German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the president of the Bundestag, Julia Klekner. The visit comes a week before fresh peace talks between Ukraine, Russia and the United States planned for November 10–11 in Abu Dhabi.
Ukraine faces large financing needs for next year: Zelensky previously requested an additional €70 billion from European partners for 2027, and the question of securing those funds remains unresolved. According to U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, the Abu Dhabi talks will focus on security guarantees after the war, de-escalation and possible next steps toward a peace agreement.
Photo: bundesregierung.de
