BERLIN: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reaffirmed on Saturday Berlin’s “continued and unwavering solidarity” with Ukraine despite a budget reduction for military aid to Kyiv in 2025, his office said.
Scholz’s reaffirmation of Germany’s commitment came during a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as Ukraine marked its Independence Day.
In a statement released by his office, Scholz emphasized Germany’s “continued and unwavering solidarity with Ukraine in the face of Russia’s ongoing aggression.” Germany is set to cut its aid budget for Ukraine in the upcoming year.
Currently, Germany is the second-largest donor of military aid to Ukraine after the United States. However, the 2025 budget, currently under discussion, proposes a reduction in aid from approximately eight billion euros (about nine billion dollars) in 2024 to around four billion euros.
The telephone call between Scholz and Zelensky underscored Germany’s enduring support for Ukraine’s defence efforts, especially in the area of air defence, which has been a key focus of German assistance. Zelensky expressed gratitude for Germany’s ongoing military support.
Scholz’s ruling coalition has been grappling with internal disagreements over the national budget, which has led to a contentious debate about future spending. Finance Minister Christian Lindner, representing the liberal Free Democratic Party, has been at the forefront of advocating for budgetary restraint to meet Germany’s debt reduction goals.
Despite the planned reduction, the German finance ministry stated on August 17 that it remains open to additional funding for Ukraine, which would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
