Germany plans to significantly increase aid to Ukraine next year
Germany aims to double its proposed security assistance to Ukraine next year to reduce the number of funding requests required to support the nation.
According to a senior official, Germany plans to significantly expand its proposed security assistance to Ukraine in 2024.
During a meeting of European Union leaders on Nov. 13, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock announced that the nation’s proposed aid funding for Ukraine will “be massively expanded next year.”
Reportedly, the plan aims to double Germany’s originally planned Ukraine aid package from 4 billion euros ($4.28 billion) to 8 billion euros ($8.56 billion). The German parliament’s budget committee will need to approve the plan later this week.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius believes that this effort would prevent the need for continuous requests for more money for Ukraine throughout 2024, allowing them to access a larger funding pool as per Ukraine’s evolving needs.
Securing long-term funding for Ukraine’s defense is becoming a key concern among international leadership as public concern shifts toward the ongoing Israel–Hamas war in Gaza.
It is vital for European powers to “face the geopolitical challenge” in Ukraine amidst Europe’s current focus on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Germany has been a leading contributor to Ukraine, with approximately $23 billion euros ($24.6 billion) worth of aid provided to date.
European officials believe that Ukraine will need further funding to ensure that Russia doesn’t continue to launch invasions of Eastern Europe as part of a wider strategy.
News of Germany’s efforts comes as Ukraine prepares for its second winter after Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Last winter, Russian forces primarily targeted Ukrainian food, energy, and transportation infrastructure in an attempt to starve and freeze the population into submission.
The United States and its partners described the tactics as crimes against humanity and called on the international community to condemn Russia’s almost daily attacks on housing, food stores, and other infrastructure.
Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy said the Ukrainian people must prepare for another such winter and work to maintain its military capabilities in the face of food and power shortages.
“We are almost halfway through November, and we must be prepared for the possibility that the enemy may increase the number of drone or missile strikes against our infrastructure,” Mr. Zelenskyy said during his nightly address on Nov. 12.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
