Germany’s Scholz plan to double Ukraine military aid signals significant support boost

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz delivers a speech on the day of the opening of an electrolysis gigafactory in Berlin, Germany November 8, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo Acquire Licensing Rights

FRANKFURT, Nov 11 (Reuters) – The governing coalition in Germany has agreed in principle to double military aid for Ukraine next year to 8 billion euros ($8.5 billion), a political source in Berlin said on Sunday.

If approved by parliament, Germany’s defence spending would exceed the 2% pledged by all North Atlantic Treaty Organization members, the source added.

Lawmakers from the governing parties agreed on the increase during negotiations over the proposed 2024 federal budget, ahead of a formal meeting of the budget committee of the Bundestag – or lower house of parliament – on Thursday, Nov. 16, the source said.

Bloomberg News first reported the news on Saturday, citing people familiar with the matter.

A spokesperson for Germany’s Ministry of Defence declined to comment further.

Defence minister Boris Pistorius expressed support for the planned doubling of military aid to Ukraine.

“It is a strong signal to Ukraine that we will not leave them in the lurch,” he said.

Germany’s Bild am Sonntag newspaper reported that the committee is expected to approve the additional 4 billion euros.

Member of parliament Andreas Schwarz welcomed the proposal, saying, “Doubling the military spending is both the right thing to do and important.”

He added, “With the move we will underscore our promise to Ukraine with the necessary funds. The fact that we will also be able to fulfil our NATO obligation is a great success of the coalition.”

A European Union plan to spend up to 20 billion euros ($21 billion) on military aid for Ukraine is meeting with resistance from EU countries, diplomats said this week.

($1 = 0.9362 euros)

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