—PFTS · close for Oct. 2 not published, could not be confirmed

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44.9857USD/UAH · official NBU rate for Oct. 5 · +0.34%
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, MON., OCT. 5, 2026No. 1 · Morning, 6:00 a.m. EEST6 a.m. EEST
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Ukraine · DiplomacyPress ✓ 5 outlets · amounts differ between sources

Merz arrives in Kyiv amid air-raid sirens: Zelensky speaks of 15 deals worth 8.5 billion euros

The German chancellor arrived on Sunday, October 4, on an unannounced visit, his first since May 2025. Kyiv calls the outcome a package of agreements on air defense, drones and energy, while the agencies report a much smaller sum in direct aid.

Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv on the morning of October 4, Suspilne and Slovo i Dilo reported. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met him at the railway station. According to the AFP agency and the outlet BusinessDay, the visit took place amid alarm signals and explosions. Merz explained his trip by saying that Ukraine needs support in the coming weeks, above all ahead of winter. Together with Zelensky he honored the fallen defenders on Maidan Nezalezhnosti (UNN).

Zelensky announced 15 agreements with a total value of more than 8.5 billion euros: missiles for Patriot, countering drones, artillery, FREYJA robotic platforms and protection of the power system (thepage.ua, United24). Reuters and AFP describe something different: about 1.3 billion euros in a new package, of which roughly a billion is for weapons and 350 million for rebuilding energy infrastructure. So the 8.5 billion figure is an estimate from the Ukrainian side that other outlets have not yet confirmed. DailyDrop has not seen the text of the agreements themselves.

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By the numbers
15deals Zelensky speaks of
€8.5 bntotal amount by his estimate
€1.3 bnnew package according to Reuters and AFP
Security · DiplomacyPress ✓ 4 outlets · statements by the parties

EU: “We will not leave Kyiv” — in reply to Moscow’s call for foreigners to leave the capital

The EU delegation in Kyiv continues to work despite Russia’s threats against foreign diplomats, European Commission spokesperson Christian Wigand said (TSN, Slovo i Dilo). According to him, the delegation’s status has not changed, and the statement by Russia’s Foreign Ministry is an attempt to intimidate Europeans so that they cut aid to Ukraine. EU Ambassador Katarina Maternova called the Russian statement a “masterpiece of hypocrisy” and added: “We are staying in Kyiv” (sud.ua). Wigand also said the EU is preparing the largest sanctions package against Russia in its history.

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Word of the day
recommendationword of the day

This is what Moscow’s foreign ministry calls its call for foreigners to leave: polite in form, a threat in substance.

Economy · EUPress ✓ 4 outlets · FT as the primary source

Brussels will not advance Ukraine money from the 2027 loan — reforms first

The European Commission has refused to pay Ukraine part of the loan planned for 2027 ahead of schedule, writes the Financial Times, and Interfax-Ukraine retells its report. In a letter from Commissioners Valdis Dombrovskis and Marta Kos to Verkhovna Rada Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk, reforms are named as the condition. The demands include abolishing the VAT exemption for small international parcels, taxing digital platforms and setting up monitoring of politically exposed persons. According to Interfax-Ukraine, meeting the conditions would open the way to about 34 billion euros of support this year.

In the summer, Zelensky estimated the additional defense need at about $27 billion. The Ukrainian and European sides describe the gap differently: the Commission, according to spokesperson Paula Pinho, concluded that there is no shortfall (UkraNews). Kyiv Post notes that the joint statement of October 1 did not name any sums. So the question of whether there is a shortfall and which reforms are needed remains open.

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World · Middle EastPress ✓ 5 outlets · statement by Iran’s speaker

Iran: Strait of Hormuz stays closed until the US meets seven conditions

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday, October 4, that the Strait of Hormuz will not open until seven Iranian conditions are met (Khaleej Times, Gulf News, The Star, Oman Observer). The outlets describe the framework differently — the “Islamabad Memorandum” or the interim agreement with the US from June. Among the demands, according to Qatar Tribune, are lifting the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, lifting the ban on oil exports, unfreezing assets and lifting sanctions. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi separately said that a plan proposed by Tehran could open the strait within seven days if it is accepted.

We have not seen the full official list of the seven conditions. Reuters reports that Gulf exports are at 60–80 percent of normal, and Brent holds above $100.

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Economy · HryvniaPress ✓ 3 sources · PFTS not confirmed

Official dollar rate for Monday is 44.9857 hryvnias, the hryvnia weakens for the second time in a week

The National Bank set the official rate for October 5 at 44.9857 hryvnias per dollar (kurs.com.ua, Minfin). On Friday, October 2, the rate was 44.8333, and on October 1 it was 44.6819. Over two days the dollar rose by almost 30 kopecks. The NBU reference rate at 12:00 on Friday was different — 44.991. Banks and exchange offices trade at their own rates.

The PFTS index does not publish daily closes publicly, so we could not confirm the figure for October 2. Trading Economics data for March 2026 showed 461 points, and Cbonds showed 428.88 on August 4.

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In brief
  • Merz and Zelensky honored the fallen defenders on Maidan Nezalezhnosti.UNN
  • Germany contributed more than 557 million euros to the Energy Support Fund.kurs.com.ua
  • The OPEC+ quota for November is 31.01 million barrels a day.Nairametrics
  • Quantum tested interceptor drones against jet-powered “Shahed” drones.UkraNews
  • The EU approved defense procurement for Ukraine worth 28.3 billion euros.Radio Svoboda
  • Brent holds above $100 a barrel.QNA
  • Houthis claimed strikes on Aramco facilities; Yemen launched an offensive.Al Jazeera
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Unverified — what we could not confirm

“Germany gave Ukraine 8.5 billion euros in cash.” This is an estimate by the Ukrainian side: 15 agreements, including for production and programs. Reuters and AFP write about a package of about 1.3 billion euros, of which a billion is for weapons (UkraNews, Kuwait Times).
“The EU is closing its delegation in Kyiv because of threats.” Spokesperson Wigand said the delegation is working without changes, and Maternova: “We are staying in Kyiv” (TSN, sud.ua).
“The Strait of Hormuz has already been opened.” Ghalibaf said the opposite on October 4: closed until seven conditions are met; Araghchi only allows that it could open within seven days if the plan is accepted (Khaleej Times, Gulf News).

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  • Володимир Зеленський, президент України X · 10/4Zelensky thanked Merz for the surprise Kyiv visit and for honoring fallen defenders at Maidan, calling the German-Ukrainian partnership a strong strategic one.

Statements as posted, not fact-checked.

Glossary · dotted words — economics, law, security and science terms explained in the context of the story. The list grows every day.
INSIDEMerz arrives in Kyiv amid air-raid sirens: Zelensky speaks of 15 deals worth 8.5 billion eurosUkraine · DiplomacyEU: “We will not leave Kyiv” — in reply to Moscow’s call for foreigners to leave the capitalSecurity · DiplomacyBrussels will not advance Ukraine money from the 2027 loan — reforms firstEconomy · EUIran: Strait of Hormuz stays closed until the US meets seven conditionsWorld · Middle EastOfficial dollar rate for Monday is 44.9857 hryvnias, the hryvnia weakens for the second time in a weekEconomy · Hryvnia