Scholz blocks €3bn military aid proposal for Ukraine
Germany's defence and foreign affairs ministers have proposed granting an additional three billion euros in military aid to Ukraine. However, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz opposes the initiative and is blocking 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 Defence Minister Boris Pistorius are trying to push through an additional package of approximately three billion euros, which would be allocated for urgently needed weapons in Ukraine. The entire package is intended to be passed before the elections scheduled for 23rd February. However, the chancellor's office under Olaf Scholz is blocking the effort, it says.
Military experts in the Ukrainian defence department have prepared a list of urgently needed weapon systems, including three additional Iris-T air defence batteries with ammunition, additional Patriot air defence 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 money 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 is also said to point out that Ukraine can utilise a $50 billion loan provided by the G7 countries, which is financed by revenues from frozen Russian state assets.
The weekly reports that the Chancellor's decision is related 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 Defence 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"
