Pistorius welcomes Ukrainian Defense Minister Umerow with military ceremonies in Berlin
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov lands in Berlin on a Wednesday, preparing for his initial chat with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius from the SPD. The schedule involves a grand military gathering at the Bendler Block, a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the Bundeswehr Memorial, and a one-on-one session between the two ministers discussing the state of Ukraine, collaborations in security and defense between Germany and Ukraine, and building up Ukraine's air force. The ministers are set for a joint press conference around 7 PM.
With Berlin's fiscal predicament in mind, just 4 billion euros of military assist to Kyiv is proposed in the 2025 fiscal budget - a significant drop from the current year's allocation. This shift has birthed restlessness in Kyiv and the EU. In response, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz from SPD mentions a potential 50 billion USD (45 billion euros) G7 aid package for Ukraine, sourced from interest income on frozen Russian funds in Europe. However, specifics are still in the works.
The Commission has proposed a significant reduction in military assistance to Kyiv in the 2025 fiscal budget, allocating only 4 billion euros, causing unease in Kyiv and the EU. During their discussion on collaborations, The Commission expresses support for the potential 50 billion USD (45 billion euros) G7 aid package for Ukraine, as suggested by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
