German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s office opposes the urgent allocation of about 3 billion euros to supply weapons to Ukraine, although such an initiative is supported by Foreign Minister Annalena Burbock and Defence Minister Boris Pistorius. This was reported by Der Spiegel, citing sources.
Why is help being delayed?
After the collapse of Germany’s government coalition in November 2024, the ministries of foreign affairs and defence prepared a list of weapons for Ukraine. It includes:
- 3 Iris-T air defence batteries with missiles;
- Patriot missiles;
- 10 wheeled howitzers;
- artillery ammunition.
This decision was motivated by Kyiv’s growing needs due to the intensification of the Russian offensive and the uncertainty of US military support after Donald Trump’s election victory.
However, the implementation of this plan was suspended in early January. Scholz’s office unofficially reported that no additional funds were planned to be allocated because:
- The€4 billion budgeted for 2025 is considered sufficient.
- There is a possibility of using a $50bn G7 loan from frozen Russian assets.
Political risks
According to sources, the refusal of additional aid may be linked to the SPD’s election campaign. Chancellor Scholz is trying to avoid decisions that could negatively affect the party’s electorate.
What does this mean for Ukraine?
Despite the internal debate in Germany, Ukraine’s military support needs remain critical. The Böhrbock and Pistorius governments are seeking to convince the chancellor that additional assistance could strengthen Kyiv’s position in countering Russian aggression and speed up negotiations with Moscow.
Germany’s decision could be decisive in ensuring stable military assistance to Ukraine in 2025.
