Berlin’s domestic austerity measures spark fears of military aid to Kyiv being halved
German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier: Despite budgetary concerns expressed by other key officials, he expects Germany will remain Ukraine’s leading military supporter in Europe. Photograph: Alex Halada/AFPGerman president Frank-Walter Steinmeier has said that he expects his country to remain Ukraine’s leading military supporter in Europe.
After Germany provided €7.5 billion in support for Ukraine this year, next year’s budget forecast mentions €4 billion. The proposed cut is part of a moratorium on additional aid for Ukraine that follows months of wrangling over Germany’s federal budget. After a short-lived agreement last month, a €12 billion funding gap has opened up and forced finance minister Christian Linder to seek further cuts from government ministries.
“Germany remains absolutely committed,” said Wolfgang Büchner, deputy spokesman for chancellor Olaf Scholz. He repeated the German leader’s words that “support for Ukraine will continue as long as necessary” and added: “No one, especially not the Russian president should hope we will ease off here.” Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, was not placated, warning that German military aid cuts “means jeopardising Europe’s security”.Leading members of Mr Scholz’s ruling Social Democratic Party attacked Mr Lindner’s letter, too, as “the wrong signal at the wrong time”.
Already signalling a shift on Monday was Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann. The normally hawkish voice within the FDP suggested on X that stepping up aid to Ukraine “is only possible together with our European partners”.
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