Germany calls for additional 3 billion euros for weapons to be allocated to Ukraine

By: Mykhailo Stoliar | 30.01.2025, 19:14
Leopard 2A8: Innovations in the world of tanks Leopard 2A8 tank. Source: Бундесвер

The Bundestag Budget Committee has called on Finance Minister Jörg Kukis to allocate an additional €3 billion to support Ukraine.

Here's What We Know

The initiative was supported by the opposition parties - the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Free Democratic Party (FDP), while representatives of the ruling Social Democrats (SPD) and the Green Party abstained from voting.

Although the committee cannot decide on the allocation of funds without the consent of the Minister of Finance, such requests are usually approved. Representatives of the CDU and FDP said that the budget allows for the implementation of this initiative. The German Ministry of Finance declined to comment.

If approved, this amount will complement the €8 billion already allocated for military aid to Ukraine in Germany's 2025 budget. The Bundestag is yet to make a final decision on the budget.

Earlier in January, it became known that Germany would provide the Ukrainian Armed Forces with 9 Boxer RCT30 infantry fighting vehicles equipped with a 30 mm cannon with the ability to use programmable ammunition.

Boxer infantry fighting vehicle. Illustration: Gerhard Heiming
Boxer infantry fighting vehicles. Illustration: Gerhard Heiming

Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius also handed over the first of 54 RCH 155 wheeled self-propelled artillery systems to the Ukrainian ambassador. The handover took place at the KNDS Group's facility in Kassel, where the vehicles are being manufactured. This artillery system is currently being used to train Ukrainian crews in Germany.

Initially, Ukraine planned to purchase 18 RCH 155 systems in 2022, but later the number of orders increased to 36 and then to 54 units.

Source: Reuters