That would be a hard blow for Kiev: according to a media report, Germany does not want to provide new aid payments to Ukraine. This request comes directly from the Chancellery of Olaf Scholz, who is currently worried about his re-election.
According to information from the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung” (“FAS”), according to the current budget planning, no new money is available for Ukrainian aid payments from now on. Already approved material is usually delivered, but additional requests from the Ministry of Defense may no longer be approved at the request of Chancellor Scholz.
As the “FAS” learned from documents and emails and after discussions in various chambers of the German Federal Government and in parliament, Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) had passed on a corresponding request in a letter to Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) on August 5.
Budget apparently too high
It states that “new measures” may only be taken if “financing is secured” in the budget plans for this and the coming years. It must be ensured “that the upper limits are respected”.
In absolute figures, Germany has transferred the most money to Ukraine in Europe so far:
For the current year, funds for Ukraine are already planned for an amount of about eight billion euros. The planned maximum limit for next year is four billion euros and has apparently already been overbooked.
CDU criticizes Scholz’s plan
According to “FAS”, this confirmation came from the budget committee of the German Bundestag. SPD budget expert Andreas Schwarz, responsible for defense policy, told the newspaper that “no new orders are being placed” for Ukraine at the moment because they are no longer being financed.
CDU budget politician Ingo Gädechens also confirmed the restriction of aid to Ukraine: “From one day to the next, Olaf Scholz and his traffic lights are freezing financial and therefore military aid to Ukraine.”
Ministry of Finance places responsibility on Scholz
The German Ministry of Defense and the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) initially declined to comment on the media report. BMF circles said Friday evening that, in principle, “all decisions to support Ukraine would be taken in close coordination with the Federal Chancellery.”
In early July, Scholz made additional Patriot systems available to Ukraine. The German Chancellor promised: “Germany will support Ukraine – as long as it is necessary.”
Now it is said that the German federal government is working “within the circle of the G7 states and the EU in particular on opening up a short-term financing instrument worth 50 billion dollars for Ukraine using frozen Russian assets.” “Bilateral German aid remains at the highest level, but depends on the effectiveness of this instrument,” according to BMF circles.
Financial chaos of the traffic light government
Shortly before the expiration of a self-imposed deadline, the leaders of the federal government of the SPD, the Greens and the FDP reached an agreement on changes to the draft federal budget for 2025. The traffic light has imposed an austerity policy on itself. Some points of contention have now been resolved, but there is still a financial gap of twelve billion euros. This money has to be saved without it being clear where and how exactly.
In recent months, Scholz and his SPD have repeatedly verbally put the brakes on Ukraine. There was much criticism of the statements of parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich, who wanted to ‘freeze’ the conflict in Ukraine. Scholz has also recently been labelled a ‘peace chancellor’ with little credibility.
Political observers see this as an attempt to intercept voters critical of Ukraine. The SPD is lagging far behind in the polls.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
