BERLIN: Germany is set to allocate nearly 400 million euros ($445 million) in additional military aid to Ukraine this year, despite ongoing budgetary constraints, according to a finance ministry document obtained by AFP on Thursday.
As the second-largest military aid provider to Ukraine after the US, Berlin had already designated approximately 7.5 billion euros for Kyiv in 2024. However, Chancellor Olaf Scholz is facing domestic pressure, as opposition parties have gained significant traction in recent regional elections held in early September.
The additional funds are necessary to “fulfill the German government’s support commitments to the Ukrainian armed forces,” the letter to the parliamentary budget committee states. It highlights that advances by Russian forces have resulted in “heavy material losses” on the battlefield, with a “serious risk” that Ukraine may struggle to defend itself without a substantial increase in support.
The letter requests that the funds be made available promptly to procure drones and air defence equipment, among other necessities, so that they can have an immediate impact on the battlefield during the remainder of 2024.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently renewed his call for more weapons to combat the advancing Russian forces in the east and to counter devastating missile strikes from Moscow.
Berlin plans to reduce its budget for Ukraine aid next year to approximately 4.4 billion euros, as part of cost-saving measures advocated by Finance Minister Christian Lindner, according to draft budget documents. Nevertheless, the government maintains that it is “fully committed” to supporting Ukraine “for as long as necessary.”
