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UKRAINE

Germany plans hike in military aid for Ukraine

Germany is planning to boost its military aid spending for Ukraine, a member of the parliamentary budget committee told AFP on Tuesday.

Ukraine military tanks
Ukrainian soldiers sit on a tank near the front line. Photo: picture alliance/dpa/AP | Kateryna Klochko

Some €12 billion more in spending is due to be approved by the committee, with the funds to go towards military help for Kyiv as well as replenishing stocks of equipment already sent to Ukraine.

The Germany army, or Bundeswehr, will be able to begin spending the cash this year, with further funds also earmarked for the coming years.

It was unclear how the sum would be allocated as well as the precise time frame covered by the spending.

The sum would dwarf the €3 billion spent so far by Berlin on military aid for Kyiv.

READ ALSO: Olaf Scholz stresses need for quick ammo supplies for Ukraine

The committee will specifically vote on Wednesday on replenishing stocks of Panzerhaubitze 2000s sent to Ukraine, the source said.

Together with the Netherlands, Germany has sent 14 of the self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine, according to Berlin.

Germany has also sent 18 advanced Leopard tanks and about 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine, as well as an air defence system.

The finance ministry called the extra spending “objectively indispensable” in a letter asking the budget committee to release the sum, according to Der Spiegel magazine.

Without continued support, there would be “a serious danger that Ukraine would lose its defensive struggle against the Russian aggressor, with unforeseeable consequences for the European peace order”, it said.

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UKRAINE

Germany plans extra €400 million military aid to Ukraine

Germany is planning almost €400 million in extra military aid for Ukraine this year despite a row over budgetary constraints, according to a finance ministry document seen by AFP Thursday.

Germany plans extra €400 million military aid to Ukraine

Berlin has been the second-largest contributor of military aid to Ukraine after Washington and had already earmarked around 7.5 billion euros for Kyiv in 2024.

However, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been facing domestic pressure over the issue, with parties opposed to Berlin’s support for Kyiv making major gains at key regional elections in early September.

The additional funds are needed to “fulfil the German government’s support commitments to the Ukrainian armed forces”, the letter to the parliamentary budget committee said.

Advances by Russian forces in Ukraine have led to “heavy material losses” on the battlefield and there is a “serious risk… that Ukraine will succumb in its defence struggle without a significant increase in support”, it said.

The letter asks for the funds to be made available to provide drones and air defence equipment, among other things, “without delay” so that they can “have an impact on the battlefield in Ukraine during the remainder of 2024”.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky made a fresh appeal earlier this month for more weapons to counter the threat from advancing Russian forces in the east of the country and Moscow’s devastating missile strikes.

Berlin plans to cut back its budget for Ukraine aid next year to around €4.4 billion as it looks to make savings demanded by liberal Finance Minister Christian Lindner, according to draft budget documents.

However, the government has insisted it is “fully committed” to supporting Ukraine “for as long as necessary”.

READ ALSO: Opinion – Germany’s timid strategy risks both Ukraine’s defeat and more war in Europe

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