BERLIN, October 4. /TASS/. During his visit to Kiev, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced a new package of military aid for Ukraine worth around 1 billion euros, which will include long-range weapons and strike drones, as well as a further 350 million euros to support the energy sector.

"We are launching the next tranche of military aid, worth around 1 billion euros. We are providing funding for the joint production of drones designed to intercept jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicles," he told a news conference aired by the Phoenix television channel.

He noted "considerable technical progress" on this track in recent weeks. "We are supplying long-range weapons, strike drones and satellite equipment to enable Ukraine to combat Russian launchers," he said.

"Ahead of winter, we are providing energy aid totaling 350 million euros - for generators, transformer substations and necessary repair works," Merz said, adding that the winter is going to be very difficult.

Merz and German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche arrived on an unannounced visit to Kiev on Sunday. The DPA agency said, citing government sources, that Merz was expected to announce the transfer to Kiev thousands of interceptor drones and plans to finalize an agreement on the production of long-range weapons for Ukraine.

The Russian side has repeatedly said that flooding the Kiev regime with weapons only protracts the conflict.