Germany to halve military assistance to Ukraine

  • 19 July, 08:11

Germany is planning to halve from €8bn to €4bn military assistance for Ukraine next year, according to a draft budget approved by the government. Germany believes $50bn in loans approved by the G7 is sufficient to meet Ukraine’s military needs.

“Ukraine’s financing is secured for the foreseeable future thanks to European instruments and the G7 loans,” the German finance minister, Christian Lindner, said on Wednesday.

The planned aid cut comes amid concern in Ukraine and among its Western allies that US funds could be reduced or even ceased if Donald Trump wins the presidency in November's election due to the presidential hopeful’s choice of a running mate who is against military aid to Kyiv.

Germany has faced criticism for repeatedly missing a Nato target of spending 2% of its GDP on defence, but aims to comply by 2025. Being Ukraine's second biggest military donor, after the US, Germany’s budget for Kyiv is set at nearly €7.5bn in 2024.

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