German aid to Ukraine: Chancellor Scholz blocks €3 billion proposal
Germany's defense and foreign affairs ministers have proposed granting Ukraine an additional three billion euros in military aid. However, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz opposes the initiative and is blocking the aid to Kyiv, reports the German weekly "Der Spiegel."
The federal government is debating further deliveries of German weapons to Ukraine. According to "Der Spiegel," German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius are trying to push through an additional package of approximately three billion euros, which would be allocated for urgently needed weapons for Ukraine. The entire package is intended to be approved before the elections scheduled for February 23. However, the chancellor's office, led by Olaf Scholz, is blocking the effort, the report states.
Military experts in the Ukrainian defense department have prepared a list of urgently needed weapon systems, including three additional Iris-T air defense batteries with ammunition, more Patriot air defense missiles, howitzers, and extra artillery ammunition.
The information from the weekly suggests that the chancellor's office justifies its veto against the spending by stating that "it does not want to present the future federal government with a fait accompli."
The chancellor blocks funds for Ukraine
The resistance to allocating funds for Kyiv is also displayed by the chancellor himself, who, as "Der Spiegel" reports, "does not see the urgent need for action."
According to the head of the German government, "Ukraine has enough resources from Germany for this year." The preliminary federal budget for 2025 includes around four billion euros for Kyiv. Scholz also points out that Ukraine can utilize a $50 billion loan provided by the G7 countries, funded by revenues from frozen Russian state assets.
The weekly reports that the chancellor's decision relates to the ongoing election campaign across the Oder. The German authorities do not wish to comment on the matter. A spokesman for the Ministry of Defense stated on the sidelines of a Ukraine aid group meeting in Ramstein that "he cannot comment on internal discussions."
This is not the first time Chancellor Olaf Scholz has opposed aid to Ukraine. Kyiv has been requesting Berlin to deliver Taurus missiles for many months. The chancellor consistently refuses to hand over these weapons.
Source: "Der Spiegel"
