Germany has made a significant shift in its support for Ukraine, deciding to halt new approvals for military aid due to budget constraints. Finance Minister Christian Lindner informed Defense Minister Boris Pistorius on August 5 that ‘new measures’ can only be taken if ‘secure financing is ensured’ in the budget plans for this year and the coming years.The German government will continue to provide previously approved aid, but will not consider new requests. This decision has already impacted Ukraine’s military support, with the delivery of the IRIS-T air defense system now at risk due to lack of funding.The government had allocated 8 billion euros for Ukraine in the 2024 budget and 4 billion euros for 2025. However, there are concerns that the planned military support for Ukraine could be reduced by almost half next year and to less than one-tenth of the current amount by 2027.To compensate for this reduction, Germany is working on a new financing instrument that would use frozen Russian assets to continue supporting Ukraine. The G7 countries have agreed to use these funds to finance a $50 billion loan for Ukraine, although this decision is still pending and considered legally questionable.This move has sparked criticism from opposition parties and raised concerns about Germany’s commitment to supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. Ingo Gädechens, a CDU budget politician, called it ‘a unique spectacle of hypocrisy’ and accused Chancellor Olaf Scholz of ‘playing with our security’.The German government maintains that its bilateral aid to Ukraine will remain at a high level, but will rely on the effectiveness of this new instrument using frozen Russian assets. However, the implementation of this decision is still subject to international negotiations and legal considerations.
Key points
- Germany has halted new approvals for military aid to Ukraine due to budget constraints.
- The German government is working on a new financing instrument using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.
- This decision has sparked criticism and raised concerns about Germany’s commitment to supporting Ukraine.
Contradictions👾While some sources suggest a drastic reduction in aid by 2027, others state that the government does not expect a sudden reduction in funds for Ukraine.
👾The German Ministry of Foreign Affairs disputes claims of a sudden reduction in aid, stating that the budget process is ongoing and final decisions will be made in November.
