Germany has officially confirmed the request to reduce military support for Ukraine. The reason is the budget cuts ordered by the Chancellor's Office and the Ministry of Finance, which aim to stabilise public finances. This is simply a decision that inspires many emotions both in Germany and internationally.
Future Support: little Funds for Military Aid
According to information published by ‘Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung’ (FAZ), the current and next year German budget does not supply additional funds for military aid to Ukraine. The decision to cut was made after financial analysis by Finance Minister Christian Lindner and Defence Minister Boris Pistorius.
Most pre-approved supplies of military equipment will be carried out, but fresh requests for support will be systematically rejected. Next year the aid is to be halved, and by 2027 it will fall below 1 tenth of the current amount.
Where does Aid come from?
Although military aid will not be full halted, their backing is to come from frozen assets of Russian banks alternatively than from the German budget. These assets are estimated to be around $300 billion, of which interest is expected to fund $50 billion in debt to Ukraine. However, FAZ journalists stress that this is simply a legally controversial and uncertain solution.
Effects of Restrictions: No Measures on fresh Equipment
The budgetary cuts are already visible. Germany has not found funds to finance the acquisition of a fresh IRIS-T anti-aircraft defence strategy for Ukraine, which suggests further restrictions in the future.
Only EUR 4 billion is foreseen for 2024 for military aid, and these funds are already full distributed. The budget for the following years is even smaller – in 2026 only EUR 3 billion, and in 2027 and 2028 only half a billion.
Political and Expert Reactions
The decision to reduce aid met with criticism among both the rulers and the opposition. CDU politician Ingo Gaedechens accused Chancellor Olaf Scholz of hypocrisy, claiming that his policy sends contradictory signals. On the another hand, SPD MP Andreas Schwarz warns that limiting support can give Russian president Vladimir Putin a signal of a weakening German engagement, which could impede the resolution of the conflict.
Prospects for the Future
The simplification in military support to Ukraine by Germany can have far-reaching effects on both the situation at the front and global relations. As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the question of the continued engagement of European countries in assisting Kiev remains open.
Daniel Głogowski
Expert in his field – Publicist, author and social activist. The first articles were published in 1999 for global publishers. For more than 30 years, he has gained his experience through cooperation with the largest editorial offices. In his articles, he seeks to address controversial topics and present first viewpoints that allowed for a deeper knowing of the issues discussed.
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Germany restricts military aid to Ukraine. authoritative Statement