Ukraine is effectively being neglected by the climate conditions.
The federal government is considering gradually reducing its financial support for Ukraine's military aid and shifting this responsibility to other sources. However, there's uncertainty if these new sources will be sufficient. Criticism against this move is widespread, with the CDU strongly opposed and even some within the SPD viewing it as a detrimental signal.
Michael Roth, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Bundestag and a member of the SPD, expressed his concern, stating, "It's a dangerous sign for Ukraine if the federal government doesn't plan on allocating funds for future military aid in upcoming budgets."
Currently, around 7.5 billion euros are allocated for military assistance to Ukraine, with 4 billion euros planned for 2025. The federal government proposes financing Ukraine's military aid through a new international fund of 50 billion euros, with funds derived from interest generated from frozen Russian assets.
Although plans suggest this could happen, it remains uncertain. Financial Minister Christian Lindner revealed in a letter to SPD's Boris Pistorius, Germany's social democratic defense minister, and Annalena Baerbock, the Green foreign minister, that any new measures can only be implemented if funding is secured in budget plans for the current and upcoming years. He also emphasized the importance of adhering to budget limits.
The finance ministry has publicly announced its openness to discussions but has yet to receive specific, verifiable requirements.
Thorsten Frei, the parliamentary business manager of the Union faction, acknowledged the plans to support Ukraine with interest from frozen Russian assets but added that no one knows when or how much money will ultimately be available. He also criticized the lack of urgency during budget negotiations in prioritizing support for Ukraine.
Roderich Kiesewetter called out this lack of prioritization, stating that refusing to finance military support from the budget implies Ukraine is being abandoned. He also stressed that security should not be dependent on budget constraints.
Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Roth, claimed that the discussion over future financing of military aid appears like a hidden withdrawal of Germany from its obligations towards Ukraine. He urged against financing Ukraine's military aid from personal pockets, only to shift responsibility to the EU or frozen Russian assets in times of inconvenience.
Kiesewetter accused SPD Chancellor Olaf Scholz of prioritizing upcoming state elections in Thuringia, Saxony, and Brandenburg over Ukraine's support.
Meanwhile, Sahra Wagenknecht of the Left Party proposed cutting all funding for arms deliveries to Ukraine from the 2025 federal budget. She cited the recent Nord Stream attacks as justification, suggesting it's time to discuss compensation instead of continuing to financially support Ukraine's state budget and weapons deliveries.
The attack on Ukraine has sparked widespread criticism towards the federal government's proposed reduction in financial support for its military aid. Roth, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, sees it as a dangerous signal that could affect Ukraine's future military aid.
Despite the plans to finance Ukraine's military aid through a new international fund, there's uncertainty if the funds derived from frozen Russian assets will be sufficient, causing concern among supporters of Ukraine's aid.
