Berlin (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The German government is preparing to release an additional 3 billion euros in military assistance for Ukraine and German Finance Minister Joerg Kukies has briefed parliament’s budgetary committee of the move, as per a draft document from his ministry that was reviewed by Reuters.
The decision is regarded as a significant advancement after outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz had previously blocked the additional aid, pressing on the easing of borrowing rules as a prerequisite.
Talking to lawmakers from his Christian Democratic Union (CDU), chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz stated that the aid package for Ukraine will be released following the anticipated passage of reforms to the constitution. Those reforms effectively bar defense spending and support for Ukraine from the limitations of Germany’s so-called debt brake, meeting a key demand of the departing chancellor, Olaf Scholz of the Social Democratic Party (SPD).
The report of the aid release is also timed to overlap with a summit of EU leaders in Brussels later this week, in which support for Ukraine and strengthening Europe’s defenses will be on the agenda. The German parliament voted on Tuesday for a seismic reform of fiscal regulations.
How did Scholz visit Kyiv before announcing new aid?
Last year in December, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz vowed additional military aid worth $680m to Ukraine in a surprise visit to Kyiv after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy aimed security guarantees from NATO to protect itself amid steady Russian advances.
In a message announcing his visit, Scholz said that the military assistance would be delivered amid Ukraine’s continued effort to protect its territory, nearly 20 percent of which has been occupied by Russia. The visit was his second since Russia’s full-scale attack of Ukraine nearly three years ago.
“I traveled to Kyiv tonight by train through a country that has been defending itself against the Russian war of aggression for over 1,000 days,”
Scholz said.
“I would like to make it clear here on the ground that Germany will remain Ukraine’s strongest supporter in Europe.
“Ukraine can rely on Germany – we say what we do. And we do what we say.”
