German Foreign Minister Annalena Burbock. Photo: picture alliance / dpa / Christoph Soeder
The German government is facing a serious debate over the continuation of military aid to Ukraine. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has come under pressure from Foreign Minister Annalena Burbock and Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, who are calling for additional funds to support Ukraine, DPA reports.
During a press conference in Saudi Arabia on Syria, Burbock warned that a reduction in financial support could have serious consequences for Ukraine. She reminded that last year Germany spent almost 7 billion euros on arms purchases for Kyiv. “If this amount is halved or slightly more, Ukraine will be less protected,” the foreign minister stressed.
According to Der Spiegel, Burbock and Pistorius plan to mobilise an additional €3 billion for urgent arms supplies to Ukraine before the 23 February parliamentary elections. However, Chancellor Scholz is blocking these initiatives, arguing that he does not want to pass on the commitments made to the next government.
The situation is complicated by the lack of a state budget for 2025 due to the collapse of the three-party coalition in November. Germany is currently working with a temporary budget that includes €4 billion in aid to Ukraine.
Germany is one of Ukraine’s largest donors, ranking second in the world after the United States in terms of military aid since the Russian invasion in 2022. However, political tensions could affect future deliveries, causing concern among Western allies.
