Chancellor Scholz blocks €3B military aid package for Ukraine
The heads of the defence and foreign affairs ministries of Germany have proposed granting an additional three billion euros in military aid to Ukraine. However, 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 information from "Der Spiegel," German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Defence Minister Boris Pistorius are trying to push through an additional package worth about three billion euros, which would be allocated for urgently needed weapons for Ukraine. The whole package is supposed to be pushed through before the elections scheduled for February 23rd. However, Olaf Scholz's office is blocking the issue, it reads.
Military experts in the Ukrainian defence department have compiled a list of urgently needed weapon systems, including three additional Iris-T anti-aircraft batteries with ammunition, additional Patriot anti-aircraft missiles, howitzers, and additional artillery ammunition.
The weekly's information indicates that the chancellor's office justified its veto on the expenditures by stating that "it does not want to put the future federal government in a position of having to deal with a fait accompli."
The Chancellor blocks funds for Ukraine
Resistance to allocating money to Kyiv is also shown by the Chancellor himself, who, according to "Der Spiegel," "does not see an urgent need for action."
According to the head of the German government, "Ukraine still has a sufficient amount of resources from Germany for this year." The preliminary federal budget for 2025 provides for about four billion euros in aid for Kyiv. Scholz is also pointing out that Ukraine could take advantage of a 50 billion dollar loan provided by the G7 countries, which is funded by revenues from frozen Russian state assets.
The weekly reports that the chancellor's decision is linked to the ongoing election campaign across the Oder. German authorities do not want to comment on the matter. On the sidelines of the Ukraine aid group meeting in Ramstein, a Defence Ministry spokesperson stated that "he cannot comment on internal discussions."
This is not the first time Chancellor Olaf Scholz has opposed aid to Ukraine. Kyiv has been asking Berlin for many months to hand over Taurus missiles. The Chancellor has consistently refused to provide these weapons.
Source: "Der Spiegel"
