- Authoritative Body: Assistance to Ukraine not limited
The federal administration is pushing back against suggestions that Germany is scaling back its backing for Ukraine due to fiscal constraints. "Germany is unwaveringly dedicated, and the Chancellor's pledge is that support for Ukraine will persist as long as required, and no one, particularly not the Russian President, can anticipate that we will ease up on this," asserted government spokesperson Wolfgang Büchner in Berlin.
There's no shift in the resolve to aid Ukraine, which is currently under assault by Russia. This year, four Iris-T air defense systems, ten Gepard anti-aircraft tanks, 16 self-propelled howitzers, ten Leopard battle tanks, combat drones, and several thousand rounds of artillery and tank ammunition are anticipated to be dispatched.
Before this, Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) penned a letter to Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens), stating that "additional steps" related to financial commitments should only be undertaken if funding is guaranteed in the budget plans for the current and upcoming years.
This year, Germany is anticipating providing approximately 7.5 billion euros for military assistance to Ukraine, with the government earmarking 4 billion euros for 2025. These funds can still be elevated in the Bundestag, as was the instance for 2024. Moreover, the federal government is relying on Ukraine being supported in the future through interest on frozen Russian state assets. However, these aid measures have not yet been endorsed internationally.
The European Union, as a key stakeholder in the international community, has consistently voiced its support for Ukraine's sovereignty. In response to Germany's pledge to continue its aid to Ukraine, the European Union has indicated its solidarity, reaffirming its commitment to stand alongside Germany in their collective support for Ukraine.
