RUSSIA has vowed to launch “massive strikes” on Kyiv as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visits the Ukrainian capital.
A giant fireball explosion hit the city’s key Northern Bridge today after an attack by a long-range Russian drone.
Shocking pictures appeared to show , with drivers navigating flames and blast craters.
Mayor confirmed that emergency services were deployed to the scene, bringing traffic towards ‘s right bank to a standstill.
It was the second strike in two days on the Northern Bridge, coming amid a campaign by Putin to disrupt life in the city.
Kyiv is now reportedly preparing pontoon bridges across the Dnipro River in case destroys the existing bridges.
The Kremlin has until now mostly avoided attacking the city when senior Western leaders or officials have visited.
A defiant Merz arrived by train today for talks with , despite the Russian Foreign Ministry warning Westerners to avoid travelling to .
The German Chancellor was accompanied by Economy Minister Katherina Reiche and executives from German defence and companies.
Merz confirmed that will give €1billion (£850m) in military aid plus €350million (£297m) for energy repairs at a press conference today.
He also signed a joint Ukrainian-German agreement to produce and long-range weapons.
Writing on X, Merz said: “Germany is helping Ukraine. But Ukraine is also helping us – with its expertise, for example in drone defence, but also with contracts worth billions for German industry.
“Today we signed agreements to that effect. This partnership is not a one-way street.”
It comes as Russia said it will intensify its military strikes on Kyiv and the rest of Ukraine.
The threat came after Zelensky said yesterday that Ukraine would double down on attacking Russia’s refineries.
The Kremlin said that the Ukrainian leader “bears full personal and political responsibility” for the fresh strikes.
Washington has meanwhile proposed that the warring nations hold fresh peace talks within weeks, according to Zelensky.
He said that a “trilateral meeting at the technical level” has been suggested by the Americans in the hopes of finally reaching a breakthrough.
US negotiators including and special envoy Steve Witkoff have made several unsuccessful attempts to reach a peace deal.
Zelensky said: “Yesterday, I spoke with the American negotiating team.
“Today, the American side is in contact with both Ukraine and Russia and is proposing a trilateral meeting at the technical level by the end of October.
“Yesterday, I confirmed to them that our side is ready to support holding such a meeting by the end of October. There is no new information here.”
He added: “We are open to the or another country proposed by the American side.
“I know they will propose this to the Russian side as well, or may have already done so.
“We will wait for the response. We respond positively to negotiations.”
