Germany slashes aid to Ukraine amidst budget cuts and coalition pressure
5:57 AM EDT, August 21, 2024
Germany is tightening its belt, and this will affect aid to Ukraine. Spending on supporting the country's defense against Russia is expected to drop by almost half. However, Berlin assures Kyiv that funds will continue to flow.
After a short period of a generous budget, Berlin is returning to its almost traditional austerity policy. Drastic budget cuts will not spare Ukraine. While this year aid spending for Kyiv is expected to be 7.5 billion euros ($7.9 billion), it will be only 4 billion euros ($4.2 billion) next year.
This decision is the result of months of coalition discussions seeking savings. As "Rzeczpospolita" points out, only defense spending is expected to increase minimally.
"Rz" notes that these actions may be due not only to Finance Minister Christian Lindner's persistence but also Berlin's changing approach to the war in Ukraine. The newspaper recalls the words of the head of the SPD faction in the Bundestag, Rolf Mützenich, who spoke of "freezing the war in Ukraine." Although he was criticized for this, even by party colleagues, many Social Democrats share this view.
Funds from frozen Russian capital will flow to Ukraine
The authorities, however, distance themselves from this approach. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz argues that the G7 decided to support Ukraine with a $52.6 billion loan, which would be repaid from interest on frozen Russian capital in Western banks.
"Germany is still fully committed to helping Ukraine, and the chancellor's word that support for Ukraine will continue as long as necessary is still valid. No one, especially the Russian president, should count on us withdrawing," said Deputy Government Spokesman Wolfgang Buechner in Berlin.
"The German government will provide Ukraine with the support it needs to successfully continue its fight for freedom, self-determination, and independence," assured Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sebastian Fischer.
This year, Germany intends to supply Ukraine with four IRIS air defense systems, 10 Gepard tanks, 16 howitzers, 10 Leopard tanks, as well as drones and ammunition. On German territory, 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers are being trained.
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