German Government Plans to Cut Ukraine Aid Funding by €10 Billion Less Than Defense Ministry Requested
According to information from the German newspaper Bild, internal documents from the German Ministry of Defense reveal that the government has approved funding for Ukraine covering the years 2026 and 2027 that is approximately €10 billion less than the initial requests made by the ministry.
This significant reduction is driven by budget constraints and a desire to control expenditure amid challenging economic conditions.
The documents show that in June, the defense ministry submitted a request for €15.8 billion for 2026 and €12.8 billion for 2027 to provide military assistance to Ukraine.
However, in the final budget approval, only €9 billion was allocated for each year, including €500 million to be reimbursed from the EU fund.
This leaves the ministry short by about €10.6 billion to carry out the planned defense projects for Ukraine.
The internal document states that there will be no additional industrial support for Ukraine in 2026, and the plans to sign contracts and make expenditures in 2027 have been partially canceled or scaled back.
The defense ministry emphasizes that the original proposals were significantly higher but had to be reduced due to budget limits.
Government representatives assured that all financial indicators were coordinated between the finance and defense ministries, affirming their commitment to providing Ukraine with necessary resources.
Nonetheless, some experts question the reliability of these figures, citing ongoing discussions about Ukraine’s actual needs and the scope of military aid.
At the end of August, German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil visited Kyiv and reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to annually provide about €9 billion to Ukraine.
While official statements stress continued support, internal documents suggest uncertainties about the actual funding capacity and priorities of the German government.