Germany increases military aid to kyiv by 400 million euros

An effort despite a difficult budgetary situation. The German government will make available to Ukraine an envelope of nearly 400 million euros of additional military aid, according to a letter from the Ministry of Finance sent to German MPs on Thursday, September 19. Ukrainian troops, in difficulty on the Eastern front, have suffered “heavy material losses” and there is a “serious risk (…) that Ukraine will be defeated in its defensive struggle without significantly increased support”justifies this letter consulted by the AFP.

The additional 400 million must be made available “without delay” so that they can still “have an impact on the battlefield in Ukraine, mainly during the year 2024”writes State Secretary for Finance Florian Toncar in the letter addressed to the Bundestag’s budget committee, which must formally approve this envelope. “The successes achieved by Russian forces during the winter months have worsened the military situation in Ukraine since the beginning of the year, as has the interruption for several months of support from various states”observes the mail again.

The €397.3 million package will be added to the €7.5 billion in support already approved in the 2024 budget, making Germany the second-largest contributor to military aid to Ukraine after the United States. In a bid to save money amid a dispute between coalition parties, the Finance Ministry said this summer that it would be difficult to find additional funds this year. In the 2025 budget, currently being debated in parliament, the amount earmarked for supplying military equipment to Kiev has been nearly halved to €4 billion, drawing harsh criticism in Germany and causing concern among kyiv’s other allies. However, Scholz denied any freeze on aid to Ukraine, saying he remained fully committed to supporting the country.