German Defense Ministry urges government to increase financing for Ukraine

22 October, 2023 Ukrainian and German military near Panzerhaubitze 2000. March 2023. Germany.

Photo of the Ministry of Defense of the Federal Republic of Germany Germany's planned budget for 2024 lacks more than five billion euros to help Ukraine. The journalists of the German BILD have obtained a document from the Bundeswehr, that contains the calculation of the allocated funds.

Military assistance is paid from the "general financial management" budget. According to records, Germany has allocated EUR4 billion for Ukraine in 2024. EUR3.1 billion has been allocated for previously promised aid.

EUR770 million is reserved for the German Foreign Ministry and its assistance to Ukraine. This leaves only EUR120 million for new military projects in 2024. However, the need is much higher: the German Ministry of Defense expects additional requests for assistance from Kyiv for EUR5.22 billion.

The document specifies what more funds should be allocated for:

• EUR880 million - for air defense;
• EUR675 million for armored vehicles;
• EUR935 million for protective equipment;
• EUR2.34 billion - to ensure the viability of equipment (repair, spare parts, logistics).

The budget for 2024 has to be finalized in mid-November. Negotiations are likely to continue until then. In August, it was reported that Germany plans to provide Ukraine with up to EUR5 billion in military aid annually until 2027.

German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said that the German government has included assistance for Ukraine, including military aid, in its budget planning until 2027.

Christian Lindner during his visit to Kyiv. Photo credits: Getty Images

"For the next few years, we have already firmly planned further assistance for Ukraine in our budget planning.

The government already agreed on this a few weeks ago, and I have no doubt that this will also be confirmed by our parliament in the coming months," Lindner said.