Schultz blocks a new package of military aid to Ukraine
The German federal government witnessed a sharp disagreement after Chancellor Olaf Schulz obstructed a plan to provide a new military aid package to Ukraine worth billions of euros.
Spiegel magazine reported: German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius are seeking approval to provide additional military support to Kiev, amid the escalation of the military crisis in Ukraine. But the German Chancellor’s Office expressed its disagreement, considering that current aid is sufficient and there is no need for new measures.
According to reports, the Defense Minister proposed allocating an additional budget estimated at about 3 billion euros to urgently provide weapons, such as Ares air defense batteries. -T, Patriot missiles and howitzers, before the federal elections scheduled for February 23.
However, Schultz’s office indicated that the current government does not want to impose fiscal decisions on the next government, He stressed that Ukraine still has sufficient funding.
Spiegel explained: This dispute comes in light of the worsening military situation in Ukraine after the acceleration of Russian progress and the loss of important defensive positions. Ambiguity also surrounds the future of American support for Ukraine after Donald Trump won the elections.
For their part, the Ministries of State and Defense defended the need for an additional budget given that the emergency conditions in Ukraine were not anticipated in previous planning. The two ministers considered that this support would send a strong message that Germany will not stop providing military aid to Ukraine.
It should be noted that the 2025 budget allocated 4 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine, an amount 50% less compared to the 2024 allocations.
Berlin relies on a $50 billion loan provided by the G7, supported by proceeds from frozen Russian assets. This controversy comes as Germany prepares to hold early elections on February 23. Which increases the complexity of the current political scene.
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